Do you think this should have been allowed (young lad going to Ukraine)?

[Chocolattay]

A 19 year old lad near me has gone to fight in Ukraine. He has no prior military experience, has never left the country before and the mother is understandably beside herself.

www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-03-08/call-of-duty-obsessed-teenager-fighting-russia-with-no-experience

She feels this shouldn’t have been allowed. Obviously as a worried mother she would say that but it’s got me wondering. I am surprised he was allowed to go, tbf.

I suppose my AIBU is whether you feel somebody should step in when there’s people with no military experience trying to go, or whether they are adults who should be left to it? After all it’s their prerogative isn’t it?

He's nineteen years old, not a child - the article really seems to be infantilising him. Spelling mistakes don't make you a child. Nor does making a bad or ill-informed decision.

I don't agree with what he's done and of course his mother is worried but there are plenty of men and women younger than him in Ukraine who will be fighting.

I agree I think it's admirable too. I'd be scared stiff if he was my son too and he may be naive in his reasoning, but he is exactly what they need. Fit, willing young men. Don't know how much training or experience you think the Ukrainians fighting in Ukraine have? There's so much had wringing going on here but little action. At least he's trying to do something.

I didn't think the Ukrainian Foreign Legion are accepting people with no real military experience? Rightly so, because they'd be an absolute liability.

It was also reported earlier that those who go to sign up are asked to sign a contract stating they they're in it until the war ends etc. including handing over passports. No idea if that's verified but Ben Wallace made some comments along those lines today. Hopefully that will give this guy pause for thought.

Hopefully that will give this guy pause for thought.

I think that ship’s sailed.

I think it’s dreadful as well as stupid and selfish. He will be a liability - someone who needs to be fed and doesn’t speak the language. It could jeopardise things for the U.K. Suppose he gets captured and the Russians use him as an excuse to show that the U.K. has entered the war.

This is all bloody ridiculous he’s a grown boy and if he wants to go fight them let him!! Teach this generation a thing or two about compassion all too soft and self centred no thought for others and what they are going through. I hope my young boy would do the same

He won't necessarily be allowed to cross the border. There was a polish guy on the news who had been turned back at the border a number of times. I hope for his sake that's what happens.

@Blossomtoes

Hopefully that will give this guy pause for thought.

I think that ship’s sailed.

I don't know. I think being caught up in the rhetoric, heading off to Ukraine with all his COD experience and then being confronted with the sobering reality of having to sign a contract and hand his passport over might put paid to some of the delusions he's harbouring, but who knows. Hopefully it is true that they're not accepting people with no military experience.

he’s a grown boy

Contradiction in terms there.

There are ex military from all over the world joining fighting units to help the Ukrainian forces.
He probably thinks (like other wannabes I have encountered) that he has military experience from playing call of duty. He'll have quite a shock when he realises what war is really like!!

[quote [AUTO]9szl6l0jthb5o]This is all bloody ridiculous he’s a grown boy and if he wants to go fight them let him!! Teach this generation a thing or two about compassion all too soft and self centred no thought for others and what they are going through. I hope my young boy would do the same[/quote]
Actually, no thought for others is exactly what he's demonstrating here. He doesn't speak the language and he has no real military experience. He'll be an absolute liability and is likely to get others killed as well as himself.

I don't think it matters how old he is. Any mother would be beside herself with worry.

I think he is really brave.
I feel for his mother and family and wish for him to return safe and sound.

[quote Chocolattay]@PeterPomegranate
Yes I thought that as well, he’s probably going to be a hinderance rather than any real help.

The mother feels Liz Truss’s comments were irresponsible.[/quote]
Liz Truss comments were also wrong because it is actually illegal for him to go there and fight…..

He might well arrive there and be told to go away. I’d hope that’s what would happen.

@LizDoingTheCanCan

he’s a grown boy

Contradiction in terms there.

Let’s not squabble over the semantics here there’s a bigger issue at hand. You can be a young man, a young boy, a grown man or a grown boy the terminology makes no difference in this persons ability to fight and do the right thing

He’s being brave and helping those in need, the Ukrainian government said they will welcome anyone who wants to come and help support their fight so I don’t see why this applies to everyone but him

@LizDoingTheCanCan i know a few young lads in the village and all will be going ASAP be careful with your words

[quote [AUTO]9szl6l0jthb5o]This is all bloody ridiculous he’s a grown boy and if he wants to go fight them let him!! Teach this generation a thing or two about compassion all too soft and self centred no thought for others and what they are going through. I hope my young boy would do the same[/quote]
Grown boy? Makes no sense. It’s self-centred and thoughtless and stupid to go to Ukraine. He will take up precious resources there and will have to be looked after. Any parent should be embarrassed. He could find something actually useful and supportive to do in the U.K. - fundraising, cyber skills, whatever.

@ZealAndArdour.

I’m sure he means well but he won’t have a clue. He’ll be taking up food and (hopefully not) medical supplies.

There won’t be time to train him either.

I think I saw on the news the other night that a middle-aged British man with no military experience was turned away at the border by the Ukraniains. Hopefully they will do the same in this case.

@Getoff

He’s already in Ukraine. He was tracked as far as Lviv (just in Ukraine near the Polish border) then his tracker stopped working.

[quote [AUTO]9szl6l0jthb5o]He’s being brave and helping those in need, the Ukrainian government said they will welcome anyone who wants to come and help support their fight so I don’t see why this applies to everyone but him[/quote]
And yet they're turning people away with no combat experience precisely because they don't have time to babysit or train some fool who thinks playing COD is a good substitute for actual warfare.

We celebrate those who fought in the first and Second World War despite their inexperience, many of whom came from different backgrounds and didn’t all speak the same language I don’t see why this mentally has gone out the window now. His mother’s right to worry but he is a brave young man doing himself proud

“The FCDO advises against all travel to Ukraine, including Crimea, Donetsk oblast and Luhansk oblast. If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the conflict, your activities may amount to offences against UK legislation and you could be prosecuted on your return to the UK.”

I think he falls into the same camp as the young men who left the UK to fight with Islamic State. Just waiting for a loose justification to get involved in armed violence and live out their video game fantasies. You just have to give them a cause.