Morale among Ukrainian troops is at an all-time low, eroded by relentless attacks, a lack of advanced weapons, and heavy casualties. The early war enthusiasm, with young men eagerly enlisting, has faded. Now, those eligible for the draft are more likely spotted in nightclubs or fleeing the country to avoid service.
Recent reports from Ukraine paint a dire picture. Conversations with leaders, military officials, and citizens indicate the country is edging towards disaster. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy projects resilience publicly, but privately, military leaders prepare for inevitable losses this summer.
As the conflict extends into its third year, the gap between the bold statements of Western countries and their actual support is glaring, leaving Ukrainian forces and officials weary and disillusioned.
Zelenskyy warns of potential defeat without more robust U.S. support, highlighting the risk of Putin’s strategy to wear down Ukrainian resilience and Western resolve. Currently, Ukraine urgently needs artillery shells to counter Russian advances and prevent Putin from indefinitely stalling Kyiv’s EU and NATO aspirations.
With Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the crosshairs, the need for military support intensifies. Ukraine is calling for at least two dozen Patriot air-defense systems to shield its forces and civilians from relentless missile strikes. The city’s symbolic value as Ukraine’s original capital makes it a significant target, as highlighted by Zelenskyy in a recent interview with Axel Springer.
As the eastern front teeters on the brink, Ukrainian forces brace for further losses, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi noting a sharp deterioration in conditions. Meanwhile, an aggressive Russian campaign aims to cripple Ukraine’s infrastructure, exacerbating the frontline’s vulnerability.
In recent heart-to-hearts with POLITICO, Ukraine’s political bigwigs let slip that the national mood is more down than a deflated balloon. Despite trying to keep spirits high, their frustration with the West was as clear as day in every chat. Ukraine’s chief diplomat, Kuleba, didn’t mince his words. “Give us the damn Patriots,” he said.
Kuleba did throw a nod of gratitude to the West for the help over the past two years, but he’s irked by a nasty catch-22: the crucial weapons Ukraine needs are either on hold or come too late, which then leads Western allies to wag their fingers at Ukraine’s setbacks, making them hesitant to send more help.
The call for troops is desperate—Ukraine might need half a million more, suggests former commander Zaluzhny. Yet, Zelenskyy and the parliament are wary of a massive new draft.
So here’s the sticky part: the West hasn’t delivered the goods, which in turn saps Ukraine’s mojo to keep up the fight. Amidst an existential crisis with Putin wanting to erase Ukraine off the map (not my words, politico’s words), it turns out there isn’t enough public appetite for a fresh draft.
Young Ukrainians have taken the art of draft-dodging to a whole new level, choosing hipster bars and techno beats over army boots and barracks.
Despite the urgency, life in Kyiv and other parts west of the conflict seems to hum along almost unperturbed. Residents are more inclined to resume their pre-war routines.
The West, meanwhile, has been banking heavily on sanctions and the hope of internal dissent in Russia to do the heavy lifting. There were hopes that casualty tolls or even a Kremlin coup might shake Putin’s position.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s initial surge of patriotic energy has fizzled out. The draft centers once overwhelmed with eager volunteers now see a starkly different scene: an estimated 650,000 men of military age have vanished across borders, ditching potential conscription.
Back at Zelenskyy’s headquarters on Bankova Street, despite the outward positivity, there’s a palpable urgency for Western aid. President Biden’s promised $60 billion support package is hanging by a thread, and it’s sorely needed now. If that aid doesn’t come through? Zelenskyy painted a bleak picture: without it, Putin’s next moves could leave cities in ruins and countless lives lost. “He would completely destroy everything. Everything,” Zelenskyy warned.