Zelensky has voiced Ukrainian and Russian mobilization assessments: the main thing is not the quantity, but the quality of weapons and technologies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently made an important statement regarding the state and prospects of Ukraine’s mobilization campaign in the context of the war with Russia in an interview with the Hungarian newspaper Valasz online. He emphasized that Kyiv is capable of mobilizing about 27,000 new servicemen each month, while Moscow can mobilize 40-50,000 people per month. However, according to him, in a war, the focus is not just on the number of mobilized personnel, but on Ukraine’s ability to acquire the necessary weapons and technologies that give it a competitive advantage. The head of state noted: "Mobilization is directly a problem of any war, and Ukraine is no exception. We aim to end this war as quickly as possible because people are worn out and exhausted. Our resources allow us to mobilize 27,000 people per month, but the Russians — five times more, for example around 40-50,000 — because their losses are significantly higher. However, the main thing is not the numbers but the ability to defend with modern weapons and technologies. Our mobilization is possible thanks to the martial law, and no other country in the world has the same level of effective work as the Ukrainians. We are the ones who stopped Putin." Zelensky also stated that Ukraine is not conducting mobilization of youth aged 18–24, instead offering them to sign one-year contracts. “I have never spoken openly about this before, but to sum up — I believe we need to create opportunities for young people from 18 years old to serve and develop their potential in defending the country,” he said. He called this part of a strategic approach, asserting: “Operation ‘Web’ has shown that what matters is not how many troops you have, but how modern your weapons and technologies are, as well as money and political pressure.” Zelensky urged Western partners to intensify sanctions against Russia aimed precisely at those financial flows that Russia uses to fund the war. He emphasized that these sanctions could significantly limit the Kremlin’s ability to conduct hostilities, but Western countries are holding back due to internal nuances and political reasons. The head of state also emphasized that Ukrainian soldiers at the front are fighting without proper weapons, but even despite this, the Ukrainian army demonstrates courage and resilience. According to him, Ukrainians are trying to give youth a chance to show themselves, and he called on the world to support them by providing modern weapons and technologies, as this determines the future of the struggle for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. In conclusion, Zelensky underscored: “We have the potential to stop any push and defend our lands. It is important that everyone understands: the main thing in this war is not the number of mobilized troops, but the quality of received weapons, modern technologies, and international support. Only then can we achieve victory and end this terrible war as soon as possible.”