Ukraine’s Aggressive Draft Efforts Are Facing a Backlash

Early in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Mykola Kulichenko endured an ordeal. He was abducted as a civilian, survived a Russian execution attempt by a stroke of luck and then climbed out of his own grave by pushing through the dirt heaped above him.

His brothers died beside him, but Mr. Kulichenko had turned his head at the last moment and a bullet passed through his cheek, leaving a hole but not causing life-threatening wounds.

His case elicited widespread shock and sympathy in Ukraine — but it did not shield him from Ukraine’s mobilization system. He received a draft summons in October.

Mr. Kulichenko has used his second lease on life to care for his elderly father and return to raising ducks and chickens on a farm in northern Ukraine. But he said he still has trouble sleeping, as he flashes back to being shot and buried alive then finding his way home with his body covered in bruises and his cheek bleeding and tremendously swollen.

Given the trauma of his ordeal, he doesn’t think he should be drafted into the army. “It was very hard to climb out of my grave,” he said.

“What would it change if I go” to the trenches now, he said, claiming that his presence would have no impact on the fighting. “I would take my life to the front and leave it there, for nothing.”