Last Monday, a surprising scene unfolded in downtown Barcelona: two Ukrainian soldiers, dressed in full military uniform, were waiting in front of the Estacion del Norte station. They were waiting for a bus. ARA's Head of International, Francesc Millan, They were found by chance. After a conversation, the two soldiers agreed to anonymously tell their story to ARA. They were deserters who had fled the front lines a few days earlier after three and a half years of fighting in the Ukrainian army. They had just arrived in Barcelona and had slept on the streets for the first two nights. We published the entire story in the newspaper this weekend. You can retrieve it at this link if you haven't read it yet.

Given the complex geopolitical context, France is looking to strengthen its military. After ruling out reintroducing compulsory military service, the government has announced another initiative: a mandatory training course for all young people between the ages of 16 and 25 to learn what a soldier's job is like. Starting in September, boys and girls with French nationality will be required to participate in the course, which will begin with a patriotic act: the raising of the flag while singing. The MarseillaiseThe Ministry of Defense believes the activity can serve to awaken vocations and recruit future soldiers.

Tension is growing in Eastern Europe: President Joe Biden has formally approved the deployment of more U.S. military personnel to the area due to tensions with Russia. Some 2,000 troops will go to Poland and Germany, and a thousand will be stationed in Romania. The moves will take place, according to U.S. officials, "in the next few days."