Ukraine’s frontline situation is steadily deteriorating as the mobilization campaign fails to provide the army with willing or battle-ready troops, The Economist reported on Sunday, citing military commanders.
The magazine noted that the army “is long out of willing recruits,” adding that the draft is falling short of expectations, barely reaching two-thirds of target numbers. One senior Ukrainian official told The Economist that he fears “the situation may become irretrievable” by the spring.
Even when frontline units do receive reinforcements, the quality of the recruits is a major issue, the outlet said. A Ukrainian battalion commander told The Economist that many new recruits are either too old, or too reluctant to fight, and are of no use. Most of them are said to be over 45, with many arriving at the front with doctors’ notes saying they are too ill to fight.
“At times it feels like I’m managing a day-care center rather than a combat unit,” the officer admitted. The magazine also described an induction ceremony at one of the units, where a 51-year-old recruit wearing +9 glasses admitted he had been surprised to be inducted, as he is half blind.
According to The Economist, the situation on the front line is widely regarded as difficult, with many fearing that a retreat will be inevitable. This “systemic weakness” is undermining overall morale, with one frontline commander fuming over the fact that only 30% are determined to keep fighting to the end, the article said.
A battalion commander with the callsign ‘Lemberg’ confirmed the sentiment, saying: “In 2022, I was ready to tear the Russians apart with my teeth. In 2023, I just needed rest. This year? I almost couldn’t give a f**k.”
Ukraine’s general mobilization campaign, which was announced in February 2022 after the escalation of the conflict, has been marred by widespread graft and draft-dodging, with patrol officers often hunting for potential recruits in the streets, in shopping malls, and gyms.
This spring, Kiev significantly tightened mobilization rules while lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 to offset mounting losses, with Ukrainian officials hinting that the bar could be brought down even further.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko suggested that the country needed an additional 500,000 troops to replace losses, adding that Kiev’s mobilization rates were dropping, and that this “cannot be allowed under any circumstances.”