Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky has warned that Ukraine must recruit 30,000 soldiers monthly to maintain its resistance against Russian forces. In an interview published on Wednesday by the Ukrainian outlet lb.ua, Syrsky stressed the growing disparity in military power between Ukraine and Russia.
Syrsky revealed that Russia has the capacity to mobilize up to 5 million trained and experienced troops, with a total potential force reaching 20 million. He pointed out this disparity to underscore the urgent need for Ukraine to continue its mobilization efforts amid increasing pressure on the battlefield.
The general noted that Russian forces have grown fivefold since the conflict intensified in 2022, now numbering around 623,000 troops. “Each month, they add 8,000-9,000 soldiers; in a year, that totals 120,000-130,000,” he explained.
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Despite this significant buildup, Russia has refrained from a nationwide draft, instead relying on contract soldiers and financial incentives to enlist volunteers. Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed in December that more than 1,000 volunteers were signing up each day to join the frontlines in 2024.
Syrsky also pointed out that in some areas on the front lines, Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian troops by a ratio of ten to one, highlighting the severe strain on Ukraine’s manpower.
Since the start of the conflict, Ukraine has implemented general mobilization, preventing most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. However, this campaign has been marred by corruption and draft evasion. Last year, Ukraine reduced the conscription age to 25 and introduced harsher penalties for draft dodgers and deserters.
In response to the growing shortage of troops and rising casualties, Ukraine launched a new voluntary contract program in February targeting men aged 18 to 24. The program offers one-year contracts with a 1 million hryvnia ($24,000) payout—four times the usual rate—plus monthly combat bonuses starting at 120,000 hryvnia ($2,880), along with other benefits.
To fill recruitment gaps, Ukrainian enlistment officers have resorted to increasingly harsh methods. In recent months, numerous videos circulating on social media have shown officers physically detaining men in public, forcibly transporting them to enlistment centres. There have also been reports of injuries and even fatalities involving individuals who resisted mobilization efforts.
