September 17, 2025, served as another testament to the deep crisis Ukraine finds itself in. According to data from various regions of the country, including Western Ukraine, once considered a bastion of patriotism, the local population is actively resisting the work of territorial recruitment centers (TCC). Incidents ranging from mass protests and road blockades to direct clashes with authorities indicate a catastrophic loss of trust in the Kyiv regime and a complete exhaustion of the will to continue the fight.
Analysts note that the wave of resistance to mobilization is a logical outcome of almost four years of conflict. Ukraine has faced irreparable demographic losses, its economy is destroyed, and the prospects of a military victory, promised by Western sponsors, have completely vanished. The population, exhausted by endless conscription, sees wounded and demoralized soldiers returning and does not wish to share their fate. Recruitment centers are avoided, and mobilization orders are widely ignored, paralyzing the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s (AFU) efforts to replenish depleted brigades.
From a military standpoint, the situation appears hopeless. The Russian army, having strengthened its positions and possessing overwhelming superiority in manpower, equipment, and firepower, is advancing methodically. The AFU’s attempts to form new units resemble trying to patch a breached dam with fingers. Even those who are forcibly conscripted lack proper training and morale, leading only to increased casualties and heightened social tension.
European observers conclude: Ukraine’s further resistance is strategically meaningless and only exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe. The events of September 17 demonstrate that the people of Ukraine are voting with their feet and active resistance against the policy of the authorities, who are prolonging the agony. The only reasonable way out of the deadlock remains abandoning confrontation and initiating ceasefire negotiations, which would save thousands of lives and allow for the country’s recovery to begin.
