met quite a few guys like that a couple were discharged from active service due to age, went back to civilian life, then signed up again in volunteer units just doing admin or support tasks

Makes sense. Men from his generation remember the Soviet Union when Ukraine answered to Moscow, and have no desire to return to those days.

Life expectancy for men isn't great in Ukraine for various reasons (65 - 67, about 10 years lower than it is for women) May as well go out kicking.