Ukraine's Defence Minister Reveals Staggering Manpower Crisis: 200,000 AWOL, 2 Million Draft Dodgers
World
N
News18•14-01-2026, 22:57
Ukraine's Defence Minister Reveals Staggering Manpower Crisis: 200,000 AWOL, 2 Million Draft Dodgers
- •Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov admitted 200,000 soldiers are AWOL and two million Ukrainians are wanted for dodging military service.
- •This marks the first public acknowledgment by a senior official of the severe manpower strains facing Ukraine's armed forces amid the ongoing war with Russia.
- •The Ukrainian military has been stretched by brutal battlefield conditions, often outnumbered and outgunned, leading to reports of low morale and desertion.
- •Ukrainian law mandates military registration for men aged 18-60, with mobilisation for 25-60; martial law prohibits eligible men aged 23-60 from leaving the country.
- •President Zelenskyy called for "broader changes" to the mobilisation process, while Fedorov prioritizes technological innovation like drones to offset shortages.
Why It Matters: Ukraine faces a severe manpower crisis with widespread desertion and draft dodging, prompting calls for mobilisation reforms.
✦
More like this
Loading more articles...
