Are the 169,000 heroic members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces getting the credit they deserve?

[bluewater]

Honestly, I don't think so.

There are more articles asking "Why hasn't Russia conquered Ukraine yet? It's been a week after all..." than there have been about the heroic resistance and extreme professionalism of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Sure, we have the puff pieces that might be good for morale about plucky farmers stealing artillery with their tractors but what I am not reading so much about is the bravery and dedication of the officers and enlisted personnel that have fought incredibly skillfully on the front lines across Ukraine.

I would like to see more attention focused on them and hear reporting on their stories in depth, not just in a passing line about "stiffer than expected resistance". And I don't mean made up feel good bullshit that turned out to be footage from a video game.

There are literally tens of thousands of heroes in Ukrainian uniform fighting against much better armed professional soldiers, not just "raw conscripts", and their achievements should be highlighted much much more.

I believe in a desire to mock and denigrate the Russian invaders that the reporting is also inadvertently downplaying the valor and sacrifice of the Ukrainian military.

In our honest elation at the level of courage being displayed in Ukraine, can we take the sacrifices being made by the professional military, the number one target of the Russian invaders, more seriously and not just laugh and guffaw about bungled Russian this and plucky Ukrainian grandmothers that?

Sorry if I have expressed this poorly and have failed to get my point made clearly, but this is something I feel strongly about.

[MaryMagdaline]

1. Well said! Respect to Ukrainian soldiers!

They’ve been fighting hard and their training and discipline are inspiring!

[Nevilledog]

2. K & R

[ColinC]

3. More than that

If you add the reservists and territorial forces, Ukraine had more than 369,000 military men and women before the war. If you add anybody who joined or was drafted at the start of the invasion as well as the increasing number of foreign fighters that have signed up, I wouldn't be surprised if that number is more than half a million. If the Ukrainian military stays sharp and continues getting support from the west in whatever amount, I strongly believe they can win this war.