As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its third grim anniversary, Ukraine finds itself grappling with an acute shortage of frontline troops that threatens to undermine its valiant defense efforts. The once-vibrant ranks of volunteers who rushed to join the fight in the early days of the invasion have dwindled, replaced by an army increasingly comprised of older men pulled reluctantly from civilian life.
Scenes of tearful farewells between grandfathers and young grandsons now play out with sobering frequency at train stations across Ukraine, as men in their 50s and 60s answer the call to defend their homeland. The demographic shift in the army’s composition has sparked difficult conversations in Kyiv about the urgent need to bolster troop numbers and the potential consequences of any decisions.
The Toll of a Prolonged War
Ukraine’s army, exhausted and depleted after nearly three years of nonstop combat, is struggling to fill the gaps in its frontline units. Anonymous interviews with Ukrainian officers paint a worrying picture:
“The people we get now are not like the people who were there in the beginning of the war. Recently, we received 90 people, but only 24 of them were ready to move to the positions. The rest were old, sick, or alcoholics.”
– Ukrainian soldier, 114th territorial defense brigade
The dire personnel shortage has even forced the general staff to order the transfer of much-needed specialists, such as those trained in air defense, to the front lines as regular infantry – a move that has raised concerns about Ukraine’s ability to fend off Russia’s aerial assaults.
Demographic Crisis Looms
At the heart of Ukraine’s military manpower woes lies a deeper demographic crisis. With a population that was already aging and shrinking before the war began, Ukraine can ill afford to lose more of its younger generation to the meat grinder of combat.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has so far resisted calls, including from the Biden administration, to lower the mobilization age from 25 to 18. The specter of sending teenage boys to fight against battle-hardened Russian forces is a bridge too far for many Ukrainians, even as they recognize the dire need for more troops.
“Eighteen-year-olds are still children. Maybe they could lower it to 23 if necessary, but there are still enough people in Kyiv who could be mobilized but don’t want to go.”
– Ukrainian soldier
Difficult Decisions Ahead
As Ukraine braces for the potential impact of Donald Trump’s return to the White House and faces the prospect of a protracted war with no end in sight, its leaders will need to make hard choices about how to maintain an effective fighting force.
Beyond the question of mobilization age, soldiers and officers alike point to the need for better training, equipment, and motivation for new recruits. Simply filling the ranks with warm bodies will not be enough to counter Russia’s relentless assault.
Ukraine’s battle to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity has come at a staggering human cost, one that is etched in the tear-streaked faces of the children bidding farewell to their grandfathers at train stations across the country. As the war grinds on, the nation’s resolve will be tested like never before, and the decisions made in Kyiv will echo for generations to come.
