In 2024, Ukraine managed to mobilize only 200,000 people, – The Washington Post

In 2024, Ukrainian authorities managed to mobilize only 200,000 people, far short of the 500,000 goal set by former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

This information reported according to The Washington Post, citing Ukrainian and Western officials.

The report notes that Russian forces in Ukraine are advancing at the fastest pace since the start of the war, leveraging Moscow’s significant advantage in manpower.

While Russian losses are high, Ukrainian soldiers report that the constant attacks, reinforced by heavy artillery and drone bombardments, persist, steadily pushing Ukrainian forces back. Russian troops have advanced from Pokrovsk, threatening key logistical and supply routes.

“At the same time, Ukrainian ranks are becoming increasingly depleted and unable to withstand the Russian onslaught. Soldiers in the field speak of declining morale and increasingly support Donald Trump’s call for negotiations. These changes coincide with Ukrainian soldiers expressing disillusionment with the Kyiv government, criticizing the slow pace of the mobilization campaign,” the article states.

Soldiers report a rise in desertions, as fewer people are willing to volunteer, with many being forced into service.

“When I first joined the army, the situation was bad,” says Oleksandr, a 27-year-old infantryman from the 35th Brigade. “But now, for new recruits, the situation is so tough that I don’t blame those who desert.”

“People are being drafted, but unfortunately, we have losses, and those losses need to be replenished. And this [current mobilization rate] is simply not enough,” says Taras, a deputy battalion commander fighting near Pokrovsk.

The Washington Post interviewed Ukrainian soldiers from six different brigades operating in the eastern regions. Many expressed skepticism that Putin would agree to a ceasefire while his forces hold the initiative and fear that Zelensky may have to make painful concessions.

“Let’s be honest, the situation now is worse than at the beginning,” says Taras, a company commander in the 35th Brigade. “What can we negotiate now? All we can do is nod and agree to their demands, which we definitely won’t like.”

In his New Year’s address, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized what he called a “just peace,” a departure from previous calls for Russia’s total defeat, the article notes. Zelensky stated that Ukraine could end the “hot phase” of the war this year.

“Everything points to a ceasefire,” says Serhiy Filimonov, commander of the “Da Vinci Wolves” battalion. “The U.S. elections and Trump’s rhetoric have had a significant impact.”

It is worth noting that Serhiy Ohorodnyk, a company commander in the 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment, recently criticized the territorial recruitment centers’ approach to mobilization.