Ukraine's Struggle for Troop Recruitment Amidst Ongoing Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained a consistent stance on the international stage, particularly during visits to Washington and other Western capitals. His primary objective has been to secure increased support in the form of advanced weaponry, ammunition, and financial aid for Kyiv.

Nonetheless, Zelensky is confronted with a crucial issue within his own country. As the war enters its second year, Ukraine's military is in dire need of additional personnel to effectively and continuously combat Russia. It is worth noting that Russia possesses a population that is more than three times the size of Ukraine's population.

In a recent essay, Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine's top military commander, acknowledged the increasing difficulty in training and recruiting troops.

The essay acknowledged a bleak reality: Ukraine needs more people in uniform, and it needs them now.

Britain's new foreign secretary David Cameron attends a meeting with Zelensky.

Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters

Rewritten

With dwindling ammunition, an imprisoned artist, and Kyiv establishing a new presence in the south, here is the latest news from Ukraine.

The seriousness of Ukraine's mobilization challenge remains uncertain due to official secrecy. Kyiv has not publicly disclosed its manpower targets, nor has it revealed the exact number of casualties, although estimates suggest that the number of dead and wounded on both sides since February 2022 is in the hundreds of thousands.

Ukraine recruits a large number of volunteers but also implements conscription to draft men of military age. After facing a full-scale invasion from Russia, Ukraine enacted martial law, which obliged all males aged 18 to 60 to serve in the military or be mobilized, unless they qualified for a deferment. In 2023, military registration regulations were revised to include women, but conscription was not fully enforced.

Martial law imposed severe travel restrictions, prohibiting most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. However, various exemptions exist, including for single parents with young children and professional athletes.

Gauging the response of Ukrainians to the military enlistment call is challenging, but officials have openly recognized the problem of individuals evading military service and violating mobilization rules.

During a briefing on November 9, Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Service of Ukraine, revealed that 43,000 Ukrainian citizens were denied exit at the border within the past 10 months.

Demchenko stated that although the reasons varied, the majority of rejections were due to lack of eligibility.

Ukraine's Western allies are in a race to manufacture ammunition for Kyiv, while Moscow increases its production of artillery shells and looks for new supplies from North Korea. However, this is not just an industrial competition; it is also a contest for recruitment against Russia.

For Ukraine, mobilization is crucial for survival. Despite a long-awaited counteroffensive on multiple fronts, there have been no significant advancements on the battlefield, and Western assistance is at risk of faltering. The recent events in Israel and Gaza have diverted attention from the ongoing conflict in Europe, further jeopardizing the support for Ukraine.

CNN interviewed multiple individuals of fighting age to gain insight into their reasons for engaging in combat or their reasons for not joining the military. The interviews have been summarized and edited to ensure brevity and clarity. It is worth noting that a few respondents preferred to remain anonymous and did not disclose their full names.

“If the war continues… as it is today, there is no way to avoid conscription.”

Maj. Viktor Kysil serves with the "Khartiia" brigade. Until recently, he was involved in recruiting for his unit.

Courtesy Viktor Kysil

Those who willingly sought to serve have already done so, but there are still individuals who are unwilling to serve. If an individual has not been identified by the military enlistment office within the first 16-18 months of the war, it is clear that they are hopeful of avoiding the draft for the upcoming 18 months.

Based on my observations, there is a shortage of military personnel, and at times, it becomes critically low. Additionally, different military positions require varied skills - some demand physical training while others necessitate intellectual abilities. Everyone possesses different skillsets.

Being a military personnel, I have been handed a draft summons on multiple occasions while out in the streets. I have come across individuals who were enlisted through online recruitment. When someone discovers that they have the opportunity to be deployed to the war zone, their eagerness to earn a monthly army salary ranging from UAH 20,000-30,000 ($550-$830) or even UAH 100,000 ($2,750) diminishes instantly.

Given the ongoing intensity of the war, conscription becomes inevitable and impossible to evade.

“Civilians have become too relaxed.”

Mark Holovei, 29, works as a civilian volunteer supporting the military. He is willing to be mobilized.

Mark Holovei

Due to my health problems, I am ineligible for drafting. I suffer from chronic polycystic kidney disease, which unfortunately does not have a viable treatment. I must adhere to a specific diet and undergo hospital admissions every six months as a precautionary measure. Additionally, I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and need to regularly take prescribed medication.

Currently, health concerns seem to be disregarded when receiving a draft notice in order to meet recruitment needs. Personally, I am not afraid of being mobilized and would be willing to serve if required. However, I have a specific preference for where I would like to be deployed. I wish to join the brigade of the comrades I have been volunteering alongside.

During the initial stages of the full-scale invasion, a friend reached out and asked for assistance in supplying the military. Initially, I mainly provided food, drinks, cookies, cigarettes, and so on, mostly aiding my own friends and individuals connected through acquaintances. Eventually, I began contributing medical supplies such as first aid kits and tourniquets. Initially, I would travel to units located 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away from the front line, gradually venturing closer and closer.

The rate of sexism is pretty high in the army

The civilian population has grown complacent, with dance clubs and night taxis still operating as usual. However, when a missile attack strikes their city, it serves as a stark reminder that they are, in fact, in the midst of a war.

Maria Zaika, 31, is the marketing manager of a pharmacy network. She is ready to register for service.

I visited my nearby military recruitment office to gather more information about mobilization and express my interest in registering. I inquired the recruitment officer about the possibility of women participating voluntarily, and he clarified that it was a voluntary-compulsory decision.

I am prepared to enroll for the service without any apprehension. Nowadays, there has been a notable increase in the recruitment of women. In fact, numerous female pharmacists eagerly choose to join the armed forces.

Generally, military personnel tend to be unsupportive when it comes to their girlfriends or wives enlisting in the army due to the prevailing high level of sexism within the military.

Overall, it appears that there are issues with reserves. Through my husband, who is in the military, I gain insights into the situation on the front line, and it becomes evident that we are facing a shortage of manpower. Despite the significant number of Russians losing their lives, it seems that their numbers are not dwindling.

What has this country given me?

Yevhen, 32, is an IT specialist. He plans to challenge any draft summons.

I believe that all the actions related to mobilization are unlawful and unjust. Many actions carried out in the recruitment centers have no legal basis, which leads me to have a negative stance towards everything that is taking place. It is important to clarify that this is not about supporting Russia; it is evident that they attacked us. However, if I receive a draft notice tomorrow, I will seek the advice of a lawyer and contest it.

Responsibilities are frequently mentioned, but I have a question: What has this country provided me with that would make me indebted to it? Despite being an exceptional student, I had to study on a limited budget while my parents paid for my education. It seems that nobody abides by the law, yet everyone emphasizes obligations.

It is not the steel that wins, it is the spirit

Oleksandr Dyadyushkin, 36, a former HR consultant and lecturer in philosophy and the history of religion, willingly joined the counteroffensive for this year's battle.

This image, captured on October 6, 2023, depicts the aftermath of a Russian attack on the city center of Kharkiv, Ukraine, during the ongoing Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Interior Minister stated that at least sixteen individuals were injured and a child tragically lost their life as a result of the strike. The photo credit belongs to Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty Images.

Prediction: I anticipated that this conflict would be prolonged, with participants on both sides gaining experience. Consequently, the number of professional soldiers engaged in the hostilities will steadily increase for both Ukraine and the enemy.

We need to prioritize long-term goals, not in terms of sacrificing our lives, but in constantly enhancing our skills over time. That's why I have no regrets about being here at present, as I see a potential job for myself.

The significance of individuals in this conflict cannot be understated. It is not weaponry that ultimately triumphs, but rather the strength of our spirit and intellect.

I strengthen the GDP of this country

Vlad, 30, an IT worker, wants to avoid conscription.

Ukraine is ill-prepared to confront Russia, lacking the necessary resources, military capabilities, and readiness. The responsibility for this unpreparedness lies elsewhere. Russia's fortified position in the east renders any attempt to combat them futile and only results in unnecessary loss of Ukrainian lives. Personally, I have no desire to participate in the conflict, as I am neither mentally nor physically prepared for war. My goal is to evade receiving a draft notice, and if compelled, I will seek to be stationed in a non-combat role.

They do not realize what they are getting into

By receiving my salary from abroad and bringing foreign currency into Ukraine, I contribute to the growth of the country's GDP. This makes me a more valuable asset to the nation compared to engaging in warfare.

Dmytro Kostyuk, an army lieutenant is currently undergoing rehabilitation after being wounded in July. He is willing to return to active service.

Dmytro Kostyuk

Courtesy Dmytro Kostyuk

I joined the service right at the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24 (2022). Mobilization wasn't in place yet, but many guys, including myself, headed to the military commissariats. Unfortunately, they were only accepting individuals with draft notices, which I did not have. However, I later discovered that they were taking people for territorial defense, so I decided to join.

Our deployment was in the area between Bakhmut and Klishchiivka. We were assigned to the 5th Assault Brigade, which was engaged in storming the Russian positions. Our task was to secure and hold those positions. Unfortunately, it was during this operation that I sustained my injury.

My platoon faced a shortage of personnel, so we were supplemented with 12 foreign fighters. Some viewed it as a romanticized experience of war, while others saw it as a professional endeavor. Many individuals are now coming to Ukraine due to its positive impact on their resumes. However, they often fail to comprehend the reality of our war. We often envision it as a simple battle against the enemy, but it involves constant exposure to artillery fire with limited visibility of the enemy.

Foreigners have the advantage of being able to terminate their contracts more easily compared to Ukrainians. This happened to me, as almost half of the individuals witnessed the intensity and decided that it was not the type of war they had initially signed up for.

The current method of mobilization, particularly the approach of coercing individuals to join and the manner in which draft notices are distributed, is highly flawed. As a platoon commander, it seems unnecessary to have someone unwillingly serving in the army. Although I do not hold a favorable opinion of draft evaders, it is important to recognize that everyone has their own circumstances, making it difficult to pass judgment without complete understanding.

Not everyone can serve, someone has to hold the notorious economic front. We are stuck in this war and we need to replace people.