LACK OF SOLDIERS JEOPARDIZES KIEV'S WAR PLANS
By Óscar Ruiz / Escudo digital
The Ukrainian army, according to its own sources, is facing a significant lack of soldiers that could lead to a dangerous situation for Kiev’s war plans, just when Russia is regaining the offensive initiative on the battlefield.
Military sources interviewed by the Washington Post, including troops and officers, have said that the troop shortage is now their most critical problem. One battalion commander has confirmed that in his infantry unit it is a problem that is driving his soldiers to extreme fatigue and declining morale on the front lines as he only has just 40 infantrymen available for front line combat, a number far below the ideal number of over 200 for a fully equipped battalion. This shortage of troops comes at a crucial time as Russia intensifies its attacks along the front.
This situation also coincides with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s preparation to replace the country’s military chief, General Valery Zaluzhny, precisely because of disagreements over the number of new soldiers Ukraine needs to mobilize to advance in the conflict. Zaluzhny has suggested the need for nearly 500,000 new troops, a figure that Zelensky has questioned, calling for justification of those numbers because of concerns about funding them. On this issue, financial assistance from the West, while very significant, cannot be used to pay soldiers’ salaries, and Ukraine’s budget is already under significant strain.
This information about the critical lack of personnel comes at a time when the morale of Ukrainian troops on the battlefield could be at risk. Commanders say that new recruits often arrive poorly and poorly trained, posing a dilemma over whether to send them immediately into combat. At the root of this problem is a shortage of troops, which could trigger “a lot more death, an overall failure and, most likely, the collapse of the front line,” in the words of one commander interviewed by the Washington Post.
Military personnel shortages also have a ripple effect, prolonging the length of soldiers’ deployments or forcing non-combat ready or trained personnel into front-line duties. This situation would affect not only the infantry, but the entire Ukrainian army, with the physical and mental exhaustion of the troops being greatly felt.
The internal debate in Ukraine about troop mobilization first, and the government’s ability to explain and justify the need for more soldiers to the public opinion later, only add difficulties to an already complicated situation.
The war of attrition that Moscow began when it realized that they would not be able to carry out their plans for total control of Ukraine, could be bearing fruit just days before the second anniversary of the start of the invasion and the lack of Ukrainian soldiers could significantly influence the future of the war, potentially affecting Kiev’s ability to defend itself against Russian advances and regain territories.
This challenge highlights the urgent need for an effective strategy to increase and sustain Ukraine’s combat strength at this critical time in the conflict. But the sources about this lack of manpower are homegrown, i.e. Ukrainian, so it could also be a strategy of disinformation or detour of Ukrainian attention. If the U.S. finally decides not to continue helping Kiev militarily, yes, added to this lack of Ukrainian troops, a very complicated scenario could arise for Kiev and Europe.
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This text was originally published in Escudo digital, with whose authorization we reproduce it here.
