Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently admitted that his country does not have enough soldiers fighting against Russia. This shortage of troops is causing low morale among Ukrainian forces.
Here are the key points:
- Ukraine passed new laws to get more people to join the military
- Prisoners can now become soldiers, and fines increased for men who refuse to fight
- Zelenskyy said Ukraine only has 25% of the air defenses needed to protect the front lines
- He warned that Russia is gaining more territory because Ukraine can’t stop its air attacks
Do you want to learn more about how the lack of troops impacts the war in Ukraine?
New Laws to Get More Soldiers
To get more soldiers on the battlefields, Ukraine passed new military laws. One law now allows prisoners to join the army and fight against Russia. Another law increased the fines for men refusing to follow orders to fight in the war.
In a television interview, President Zelenskyy explained whyย these laws were needed. He said too many military units don’t have enough soldiers assigned to them. By boosting recruitment, he hopes to improve soldier morale.
“We need to staff the reserves,” Zelenskyy stated. “There are a serious number of brigades which a large number of them are empty. We need to do this so the guys can have a normal rotation. Then their morale will be improved.”
Exhausted Troops After Two Years of War
When Russia first invaded in early 2022, huge numbers of Ukrainians volunteered to join the military and defend their country. But two years later, many of those original troops are exhausted from constant fighting with little rest.
James Waterhouse is a BBC reporter based in Kyiv,ย the capital of Ukraine.ย He said the shortage of fresh troops isย reallyย hurting morale among soldiers on the front lines.
“You have men either avoiding or fearful of the draft being legally compelled to fight and join the country’s cause,” Waterhouse explained. “It’s incredibly difficult for Ukraine at a time when we are seeing fighting in the Northeast in towns close to the Russian border.”
Not Enough Air Defenses Against Russia
Another major problem cited by Zelenskyy is Ukraine’sย lack ofย air defense weapons to protect against Russian missile and air attacks.ย In his interview, the president bluntly stated that his forces only have about 25% of the air defenses they need.
This shortage allows Russian fighter jets and missiles to strike Ukrainian targets largely unchallenged from the air. Zelenskyy said this is the key reason why Russia has recently been able to capture more territory in northeastern Ukraine.
“The Russians have been advancing in the Northeast because we have a quarter of the air defenses we need,” he said. The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly asked Western allies to provide more air defense systems.
Asking Allies for Fighter Jets and Weapons
Zelenskyy said Ukraine requires at least 120 F-16 fighter jets from Western allies to try to turn the tide. While these have been promised, none are being used in Ukraine’s air operations yet.
The president is also urgently requesting billions moreย dollars worth ofย ammunition, weaponry, and other military aid from the United States and allied nations.ย Ukraine hopes fresh troops combined with increased air power and weapons can halt Russia’s advances.
“President Zelenskyy really sees this as a gap in his armory,” Waterhouse stated. “Because we’re also seeing people having to ration energy now…Ukraine is less able to defend itself.”
Conclusion
Two years into Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is struggling with military personnel shortages and insufficient air defenses. While trying to boost recruitment, President Zelenskyy says his country needs more aid from allies.
Can Western nations provide enough additional fighter jets, weapons, and equipment to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s attacks from the air and on the ground? Only time will tell if Ukraine gets the support needed to improve troop morale and hold its ground.
