Ukraine’s efforts to mobilize its military are intensifying, according to the British Economist, as the country faces a prolonged conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been trying to motivate younger men to volunteer, but government officials acknowledge that a stricter draft may be inevitable.
Last year, Kiev overhauled its military system, lowering the draft age to 25 and imposing harsher penalties for draft evasion. However, reports suggest that these measures have not met the recruitment targets. The Economist reported on Wednesday that Western advisors are urging Kiev to draft younger people, as they see this as the quickest way to strengthen the army.
Publicly, Zelensky has resisted a reduction in the draft age, but privately, his officials have admitted that it may be necessary. A high-ranking official told the British newspaper that the escalation would continue because no one has found a better solution.
As the losses on the front line increase, many eligible men are evading the draft or even resisting it. The Economist reported on a recent incident in Poltava, where a military official was fatally shot during a recruitment drive. While Ukrainian security services blame “Russian infiltrators” soldiers suspect that the violence was “homegrown” hinting at a possible increase in internal unrest.
The Ukrainian government has launched a program to recruit younger volunteers for the military, with officials claiming they can attract 4,000 men per month with generous compensation and the promise of demobilization after a year of service. However, many have expressed skepticism.
“The army doesn’t even follow its own contract conditions – recently, we got a few people who were transferred from an engineering brigade” said a Ukrainian marine officer in an interview with The Times last week. “They had committed to being pontoon builders, but now they’re infantrymen.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is pushing for a quick resolution to the Ukraine conflict, citing the high number of casualties and destruction on both sides. Officials in Washington view the conflict as an obstacle to improving relations with Moscow. Trump has also advocated for a deal with Ukraine on rare earth metals, which he believes would offset the years of US spending on the conflict.
In contrast, the EU and several European NATO member states have pledged to continue investing in the conflict. Zelensky has insisted that peace talks can only be possible from a position of strength.