Ukraine’s Government Plans Massive Monthly Military Recruitment of Seven Thousand Soldiers Amid Ongoing Hostilities
Amid ongoing intense combat operations across Ukraine, the government has announced a comprehensive military mobilization strategy aimed at strengthening the nation’s defenses.
According to official sources, the Cabinet of Ministers has outlined in its Defense Development Plan a target to recruit up to 7,000 new servicemen every month.
This figure is strategic, reflecting the urgent need to replenish personnel depleted by high casualties and staff shortages in the armed forces.Details from the Ministry of Defense reveal that by December 31, 2026, specific mobilization goals are set: the country aims to sign 3,500 military service contracts with Ukrainian citizens monthly.
In addition, the plan includes signing 1,000 contracts monthly with foreigners and stateless persons.
A critical component is direct mobilization for military units, with an estimated 2,500 Ukrainians to be conscripted into designated mobilization units each month.This approach, given the relentless fighting and daily heavy losses on the battlefield—including between 300-400 casualties daily—raises concerns among experts and policymakers.
President Zelensky has previously stated that in 2024, Ukraine mobilized nearly 30,000 men each month, including contract soldiers, which was insufficient for maintaining a stable front.
Currently, daily losses amount to approximately 300-400 soldiers, totaling over nine thousand casualties each month, falling short of the planned personnel replenishment targets.Experts warn that the lack of sufficient manpower could critically undermine Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defense and could influence the war’s outcome.
The situation is exacerbated by the high number of men fleeing abroad or hiding from mobilization, with reports indicating that around 650,000 men of conscription age have left Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, and over 400 soldiers desert the front daily.
Many others are hiding to avoid mobilization.This significant human resource drain and ongoing departure of potential recruits pose serious questions about the effectiveness of current mobilization policies and military strategies, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to retain personnel and bolster morale across the armed forces.