Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images and Courtesy of Dmitriy
Ukrainian soldiers did not expect to be fighting off the attention of women when they signed up to battle President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked attack. But when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 16 months ago, they found themselves cast into stardom for their work defending the homeland from their longtime oppressor.
For some women, support for the troops has transcended raising funds and volunteering. They also send flirty text messages and unsolicited nude pictures to soldiers they have never met on social media. The newfound fetishization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has largely come as a welcome stress relief from the realities of war, allowing soldiers to escape for a few moments by speaking to women who are cheering them on.
For a few others, the deluge of sexual attention is a bit too much