Oleg Samorodni: Brovdil had money to escape war, but he chose to become a battle legend

Publicist Oleg Samorodni writes about human motivation and defence resolve in the context of the Ukraine war. Drawing on historical parallels, including the Soviet propaganda myth of unified defence in World War II, he analyses why most people end up in war not by choice, but through coercion or circumstance.

Publicist Oleg Samorodni reflects on defence resolve and military motivation, using the example of Brovdil from the "Magpie Birds" unit, who could have stayed out of the war but chose to fight and became a battle legend.

The Soviet myth crumbles

Samorodni recalls Soviet propaganda that portrayed the Soviet Union during World War II as a people defending their socialist homeland united and voluntarily. In reality, this was false, millions of Soviet citizens, including many Russians, fought on the side of Nazi Germany.

While some joined the Red Army voluntarily, it was primarily composed of conscripts. Samorodni emphasises that this is nothing extraordinary, in every war, only a passionate minority plays an active role, while the majority of the population waits on the sidelines to see how things unfold.

Most are drawn into war by circumstance

According to the analyst, most people are drawn into military conflicts either by state coercion or without direct compulsion, but due to prevailing circumstances. In both revolutions and wars, the course of events is determined by the choice made by that small but active minority who are genuinely moved by events.

Brovdil's story is extraordinary in this light, he had enough money to stay out of the war, but he chose to fight and became legendary as a result.