The step is necessary to withstand Russian pressure on the battlefield, according to Aleksandr Syrsky
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Syrsky, has said Kiev must mobilize 30,000 soldiers every month to sustain resistance against the Russian army. He also highlighted the growing disparity between the military capabilities of the two countries.
In an interview published on Wednesday by the Ukrainian outlet lb.ua, Syrsky claimed that Russia can mobilize up to 5 million trained and experienced troops, with a total potential force of 20 million. He emphasized this gap to underscore the urgency of continued mobilization by Ukraine amid the mounting battlefield pressure.
According to Syrsky, Russian forces have increased fivefold since the conflict escalated in 2022 and now number approximately 623,000. “Every month, they increase it by 8,000-9,000; in a year, it’s 120,000-130,000,” he said.
Russia has avoided a full nationwide draft. Following its partial mobilization in fall 2022, the Kremlin has largely relied on contract soldiers and financial incentives to recruit volunteers. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in December that in 2024 more that 1,000 volunteers were signing contracts each day to go to the front.
The Ukrainian general claimed that in some frontline areas Russian troops outnumber the Ukrainians by a ratio of ten to one, illustrating the growing strain on Ukraine’s manpower.
Following the escalation of the conflict, Ukraine declared a general mobilization, barring most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. However, the campaign has been marred by corruption and draft dodging. In response, Kiev lowered the conscription age to 25 and introduced stricter penalties for draft evasion and desertion last year.
In light of the severe troop shortages and mounting casualties, Ukraine also launched a new voluntary military contract program in February targeting men aged 18–24, aiming to boost recruitment while addressing Western pressure to lower the conscription age. The program offers one-year contracts with a 1 million hryvnia ($24,000) payout – four times the standard rate – plus monthly combat bonuses starting at 120,000 hryvnia ($2,880), along with other benefits.
To address the recruitment shortfalls, Ukrainian enlistment officers have adopted increasingly draconian methods to fill the ranks. In recent months, numerous videos circulating on social media have shown officers detaining men in public, often using physical force, and transporting them in minibuses to enlistment centers. There have also been reports of injuries and even deaths involving individuals who resisted mobilization efforts.
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