The extraordinary problem of mobilization: the inclusion of drug addicts in the army

Approximately two thousand people deemed unfit for service were mobilized to one of the military units.

Among them were people suffering from drug addiction, as well as those who are undergoing substitute supportive therapy. This information was made public by the military ombudsman Olga Reshetylova in one of the interviews.

According to her, these people entered the ranks of the Defense Forces based on the decisions of the military medical commission, which recognized them as fit or partially fit for service.

However, in a military environment, it is impossible to provide the necessary treatment, and this leads to severe withdrawal symptoms, which can include seizures and in some cases even death.

The ombudsman noted that initially similar cases were detected in one unit, but later it turned out that the problem is widespread and not limited to one unit. In the part where this was discovered, they tried to organize rehabilitation, thanks to which some of the servicemen managed to return to the performance of duty, forcing them to give up drugs.

Currently, many of them have co-morbidities that require them to be declared unfit for service or sent to units where therapy can be continued. Checks on this matter are ongoing.

The commanders of some units expressed their willingness to work with these servicemen. However, the absence of a clear legal framework shifts all responsibility for the state of health of such persons to themselves.

In general, according to Reshetylova, the situation is complex and multifaceted, including medical, legal and ethical aspects – the question of whether people with drug addiction should undergo military service. Currently, there is no unified approach to solving this problem in the Defense Forces and at the state level.

We have also discussed before whether people can be mobilized when booking, even one day makes a difference. In addition, there was talk of a possible ban on the departure of men under the age of 23, as well as legal information related to forced service.