The Ukrainian counteroffensive continues. Kyiv continues to recruit civilians. To better prepare them, the army is bolstering its ranks with psychologists tasked with preparing these civilians for killing.
Published on 07/06/2023 06:37
Reading time: 1 min
A Ukrainian soldier on the banks of the Dnieper, in the Kherson region. (SADAK SOUICI / LE PICTORIUM / MAXPPP)
Maria, in her mid-thirties, is trying to catch a breather in one of her city’s large parks. The war Russia started against Kiev is forcing them to do something they never imagined. This psychologist does not help the soldiers to heal themselves, but now prepares them to kill: “War leaves no room for emotions. That’s why we teach them to be strong,” she breathes.
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Many Ukrainian soldiers are ordinary civilians, sentenced to take up arms to defend their country and therefore sentenced to kill. Maria has to teach them this change once they are at the front. “We teach them to make a ‘switch’ and that’s very important: we call it dehumanization. We explain to them that they have goals in front of them, not people, and that they must obey orders. If we don’t do it.” “If you don’t prepare them that way and they end up having to kill them, it will break them right away,” explains Maria.
“It is my duty to help the soldiers”
Maria admits it is very difficult for her: she too is forced to dehumanize herself in order to teach the soldiers how to do it. “The post-traumatic stress symptoms they suffer from, their flashbacks, the nightmares, men breaking down crying, alcohol and drug addictions… We’re going to work on all of those symptoms. Then after the war. There they concentrate “about their tasks, their work as soldiers,” she sweeps.
This psychologist sees it as her “duty to help the soldiers.” But she lets it be known that she should have “never done it”.
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