Alcohol Is Becoming The Biggest Threat On The Ukraine Front Line

Kiev's war commanders are ready to allow almost anything to save soldiers from the gravest danger facing them during the current tentative truce -- booze (AFP Photo/Genya Savilov)

AFP: Shells silent, stressed Ukraine fighters face alcohol threat

Mariupol (Ukraine) (AFP) - Some Ukrainian troops play hours of football while others take dips in the sea as they try to adjust to a sudden drop in fighting following a fresh ceasefire deal.

Kiev's war commanders are ready to allow almost anything to save soldiers from the gravest danger facing them during the current tentative truce -- booze.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have spent the past 17 months fighting pro-Russian insurgents across the former Soviet republic's separatist industrial east.

Now, yet another in a failed series of ceasefires, agreed on September 1, appears to be mostly holding.

And troops who have learned to take out their anger on the insurgents by manning tanks and firing rockets are now struggling to deal with their emotions in the current lull.

"Many drink a lot," said a 30-year-old soldier who prefers to be called "Hunter".

WNU Editor: Being one whose family is from both Ukraine and Russia I can say with a great deal of confidence that I do know how much of a problem alcohol is in both countries. And in this war .... it would not surprise me if this problem is now widespread .... for both combatants and non-combatants .... and on both sides.