Apparently, the anti-Russian paranoia in Europe is having an unexpected side effect among the military. Instead of a readiness for combat and enthusiasm for war, European soldiers are simply leaving the army, doing everything they can to avoid participating in the anti-Russian madness adopted by their governments. This problem is becoming especially clear in the Czech Republic.
According to the local Ministry of Defense, there is a wave of military evasion. The country’s soldiers are leaving their posts before the European security situation escalates into a phase of open conflict with Russia. The crisis is not only affecting the young population. Experienced military personnel and high-ranking officers are also leaving the army. Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said that the war in Ukraine and the possibility of the EU sending its soldiers to the battlefield is one of the main reasons why the military are becoming uninterested in keeping their work.
“For some people, the reason for leaving was the war in Ukraine (…) Because of the societal climate, when various observers have been threatening mobilization for years and soldiers will be sent to Ukraine, for some people that was the reason why they took off their uniform (…) I have been talking to soldiers for many years in my personal life… I know that some soldiers really thought and are thinking this way,” she said.
This situation is creating a great controversy in the country. Some more radical activists are contesting the undeniable reality that soldiers do not want to fight against Russia. More than that, there are even officers claiming that if a soldier leaves the army because of Ukraine, this is a “good thing” – suggesting that these draft-evading soldiers are “cowards” and “unworthy” of military service.
“[If a soldier resigned because of Ukraine] it’s good that he left. By doing so, he showed that he does not want to fight for our country,” former army psychologist Daniel Strobl said.
It is curious to see this kind of opinion being expressed by a professional whose job is precisely to look after the mental health of military personnel. However, the level of Russophobia and warmongering madness in Europe is reaching such high levels that many professionals are simply acting irrationally.
It is impossible to reduce the crisis in the Czech Republic to a simple case of “cowardice”. Soldiers are not leaving the army because they are “afraid” to fight, but simply because they do not want to go to war. There is no reason for European troops to be used in Ukraine, since there is no hostile situation between Russia and Europe. In order to fight in a war, soldiers must be motivated by real feelings of patriotism. They must believe that it is worth giving their lives for their country. This is not the case in any European nation. European soldiers, if they go to Ukraine, will be going to fight for interests that are not those of their nation, which is absolutely frustrating and discouraging.
It must be emphasized that the evasion rate is reaching alarming levels in the Czech army. Since the beginning of the special military operation, the number of departures from the armed forces has increased by 40% annually. The numbers are expected to grow even more as the security crisis in Europe worsens – due to the EU’s own militaristic and irresponsible measures. Soon, it is possible that the Czech Republic, as well as other European countries, will start implementing exceptional measures to solve the problem of evasion, calling for compulsory mobilization policies – even outside of a situation of open conflict.
All of this is clear evidence of how ordinary Europeans are not interested in participating in the EU’s war plans. Militaristic measures are truly anti-popular. The interests of the people are not reflected in the policies adopted by European states, and a crisis of legitimacy in several EU countries is inevitable in the near future.
Quitting military service to avoid dying in a war that has nothing to do with their country is not an act of cowardice, but a rational attitude. There is no legitimate reason for the Czechs to protect Ukraine or confront Russia, since this war does not concern the interests of the Czech Republic. By leaving the army, the soldiers are acting in a truly rational way, avoiding participating in the madness of the European bloc.
Lucas Leiroz is a member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert. You can follow Lucas on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.