Ukrainian President highlights the need for increased military personnel amid ongoing war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the country’s military is aiming to mobilise 500,000 more soldiers to strengthen its armed forces in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Speaking at his end-of-year news conference on Tuesday, Zelensky described the proposal as a “highly sensitive” issue that is currently under discussion by the military and government before being submitted to parliament for approval.
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been in a state of war, and although both sides keep casualty numbers confidential, US officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed or wounded. While Ukraine has not disclosed its exact military strength, it has previously stated that it has approximately one million people under arms.
Meanwhile, Russia has also been ramping up its military forces, with plans to expand its army to 1.5 million soldiers. In response, Ukraine’s military has proposed conscripting an additional 450,000 to 500,000 soldiers to bolster its ranks. Zelensky acknowledged the sensitivity of this decision, noting that the expansion would have significant implications, stating, “It’s a question of people, fairness, defence capability, and finances.”
As the war has progressed, Ukraine has faced growing challenges in recruiting volunteers, with the initial wave of tens of thousands of fighters now dwindling. In light of this, Ukraine is looking to implement improvements to its conscription process. Public backlash has already been sparked by videos circulating on social media, showing draft officers distributing call-up papers in gyms and resorts, leading to anger among some Ukrainians.
The decision to mobilise such a large number of soldiers is seen as a critical step in Ukraine’s effort to defend itself against Russian forces, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by both the public and parliament.
