Ukraine announced that it is recalling its citizens aged 25-60 living abroad to arms. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov explained in an interview with German media that it was an “invitation”, but added that sanctions would be imposed if someone did not answer the call. The announcement comes at a time when calls to increase the number of Ukrainian soldiers on the front line are becoming increasingly urgent. It’s an issue that fuels tensions between President Volodymyr Zelensky and armed forces commander Valeriy Zaluznyj.
Difficult change of soldiers
In fact, military leaders are pressuring the president to issue a decree to enlist up to 500,000 new soldiers. “Major Oleksandr Volkov, who has been complaining recently, stated that our troops are experiencing personnel shortages, underlined that 40 percent of the army is over the age of 45, and said, “We need motivated young people under the age of 40.” Zelenskiy Wives of front-line soldiers who have been demonstrating in Kiev for several weeks to demand the return of their husbands after 22 months of conflict.
The Ukrainian president has so far responded to these demands by underlining some critical points. Zelensky recently said: “Given that six tax-paying Ukrainian civilian workers are needed to pay the salary of one soldier, I will have to bring in another 3 million workers to cover the costs of additional troops.” In addition, the president demands from the chief of staff Zaluzny a war plan and a project to demobilize soldiers fighting the Russians. So, according to Zelensky, the turnover must be real and supported by a clear plan.
Voluntary or forced?
The Minister of Defense’s announcement opens the first door to demands from military leaders: Ukrainians aged 25 to 60 living abroad and eligible for military service will be asked to report to armed forces recruitment centers next year and serve in the army. However, it is unclear what will happen if it is rejected. Minister Umerov hinted at sanctions but added that the government was “still discussing what should happen if (potential recruits, ed.) do not come voluntarily.”
Situation at the front
On the other hand, recruiting soldiers solely by appealing to patriotic impulses no longer seems a sustainable path. If in the first months of the conflict the ranks of the Ukrainian army were enthusiastically filled with volunteers, now the climate has changed. And news from the front is useless. While Britain claims that the fighting has stopped, the Ukrainian army itself is sounding the alarm: Russian forces appear to be making progress in their two-month ground offensive around the industrial city of Avdiivka in southeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun also acknowledged that Russian forces were superior in number and said, “Since October 10, when the enemy became more active, it has advanced one and a half to two kilometers in some places.”
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
