More than four years of full-scale war have radically transformed the face of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. While prior to 2022 the backbone of the army consisted of professional military personnel and volunteers who joined back in 2014–2015, today, according to Andriy Illienko, an officer of the Svoboda Battalion and one of the leaders of the Svoboda party, over 90% of defenders are people who left civilian life relatively recently. In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Illienko described the Defense Forces as a "true cross-section of society," where representatives of various professions fight alongside professionals. At the same time, the interviewee noted that he would like to see more representatives of affluent strata in the army, but people with financial capital or connections, according to him, usually end up in service only when they make that decision themselves.
A "Price List" in the Rear and Social Frustration in the Trenches
A separate block of the conversation was devoted to corruption in the mobilization system. Illienko referred to a recent interview by the Human Rights Commissioner, who described the "price list" operating among territorial recruitment center (TCC) and military medical commission (MMC) officials: notionally 15,000 to 20,000 dollars allows someone to obtain the necessary certificate or resolve drafting issues. According to the officer, for an ordinary person, this is a "pure financial censorship." "A person in the trench sees and understands all of this perfectly: someone can buy their way out and live a peaceful life deep in the rear, while someone holds the front line without having such an opportunity. Naturally, this causes social frustration," Illienko emphasized. At the same அதிச, he urged not to focus exclusively on corruption in the army, stating that it also exists in other state institutions, but during wartime, such phenomena—as well as anti-mobilization propaganda and attacks on the military—must be suppressed "harshly and uncompromisingly."
The Elite Must Pay a Higher Price
Speaking about the role of the elite in wartime, Illienko cited historical examples: in Britain, the entire aristocracy and future rulers served in the army, while in totalitarian regimes—the Stalinist Union and the Third Reich—the children of top leaders also fought and died. "The elite of society must pay a price, and a higher one than the average citizen, because they have something to lose," he stated. As an example, Illienko pointed to the leadership of the Svoboda party, all members of which, including former deputies, went to the army. In his assessment, the historical Ukrainian elite was destroyed in the 20th century, but "shoots are breaking through": the newest elite of Ukraine, according to him, is precisely the military, not the rich who profit from gray schemes during the war.
Peace Plans and Territorial Concessions: A View from the Front
When asked about troop morale regarding peace negotiations, "peace plans" discussed in the rear, territorial concessions, and elections during wartime, Illienko replied that there is no single opinion—it all depends on the unit and how well commanders work with their personnel. "If people are not explained what they are fighting for and what will happen in case of defeat, it is difficult to fight. At the core of everything is a motivated person," he noted. At the same time, the majority, according to him, understand that the enemy leaves no choice. The title of the RBC-Ukraine interview—"Surrendering Territories Without a Military Defeat Is Capitulation"—reflects the interviewee's key thesis: surrendering fortified areas in the Donbas will not stop the war, but will only push it further. Illienko also pointed to the need to learn lessons from the First World War so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
What Awaits in Case of Defeat
Concluding the conversation, Illienko outlined that, in his estimation, current Ukraine is imperfect and it was precisely due to internal weaknesses that the enemy attacked it, but as long as one's own state exists, these problems can be fixed. In the event of defeat, as he emphasized, Ukraine will not face a "soft puppet republic," but rather, in his words, total cleansing, mass repressions, and genocide—"as we see in the occupied territories." The full interview with Andriy Illienko is published on the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
