The Man Who Disappeared, When the Ukrainian Conscription Officers Arrive, No Men Can Be Seen
November 13th news: The streets of the Danube Delta town of Vilkovo in Ukraine are once again empty. When conscription officers appear, almost no men can be seen in the entire city.
This place was once called the Venice of Ukraine, surviving on tourism and fishing before the war, but it has now become a symbol of Ukraine's manpower crisis.
Men aged 25 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country under wartime laws. They dare not go out on the street, dare not work, and even dare not stand by the window. Some tried to cross the Danube River to Romania, a dangerous process, with some being swept away by the rapid currents and never returning to shore.
The pressure of conscription combined with casualties on the front lines has plunged this quiet water city into complete fear.
Since the war began, Ukraine has filed about 290,000 cases of desertion or unauthorized absence. Border towns like Vilkovo, due to their historical and identity-specific characteristics, have shown stronger resistance.
The residents here are mainly the Old Rite Lipovans, who have been forced to migrate between empires and nations for centuries, and have never truly trusted any government.
This situation's impact goes far beyond manpower. As men disappear, the labor structure of Vilkovo is forced to reorganize, with many women having to enter the fishing industry, which was highly dependent on physical labor, to support the family economy and community operations.
Industries that were almost impossible to employ women in the past are now actively hiring because there is no one else available. At the same time, many families are still suffering from the trauma of losing loved ones, some died on the front lines, some became prisoners, and others are unknown whether they are alive or dead. These wounds remind people every day of the cost of war.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848647888145482/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.