According to a report from Time magazine, Ukraine’s army is facing a severe shortage of manpower. This shortage has resulted in the country’s inability to effectively utilize the Western-provided weapons and equipment that have been donated to them. The lack of soldiers is not only hindering their military operations but also causing them to suffer casualties.
While Ukrainian officials have previously blamed their struggles in repelling Russia’s invasion on the slow pace of deliveries from their allies, the Time report highlights a different issue. An unnamed source, described as a close aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that the problem lies in the lack of personnel to operate the Western weapons. “We don’t have the men to use them,” the aide said.
Although official figures have not been released, Western estimates suggest that Ukraine has experienced over 100,000 casualties since the start of the war. Additionally, the country is grappling with the challenge of combat-age men attempting to flee enlistment. Under the current legal regime of martial law, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are not permitted to leave the country. However, it has been reported that 6,100 fighting-age men have been caught trying to escape using forged documents.
One individual, a 21-year-old, shared his experience of trying to evade the draft by taking an international train to Romania. However, he was apprehended by the police around 20 miles from the border and sent back to Ukraine. As the conflict continues, Ukrainian soldiers have expressed concerns about running out of combat-capable fighters and being replaced by inexperienced individuals.
This is not the first time that the Ukrainian army has faced personnel shortages. Back in April, the country already experienced a dire need for more manpower following heavy casualties sustained during the battle of Bakhmut. The ongoing challenges with recruitment and retention remain a significant hurdle for Ukraine’s military efforts.
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