**Russia’s War Machine Continues to Roll: Ukraine’s President Speaks Out**
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a stark revelation about the two countries’ military mobilization efforts. Speaking on May 27, he revealed that Russia is mobilizing around 40,000-45,000 men for its military every month, while Ukraine manages to mobilize about 25,000-27,000 troops.
This staggering difference in manpower has significant implications for both sides in the ongoing war. Despite calls from Kyiv, the U.S., and European partners for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards peace, Russia continues to intensify its efforts. Zelensky pointed out that when the international community sends positive signals to Moscow, they often respond by ramping up mobilization.
**Russia’s Conscription Drive**
Zelensky also highlighted Russia’s ongoing conscription campaign. The country aims to recruit 160,000 men for compulsory military service this year, marking the largest such drive in 14 years. This is in addition to the regular two-yearly conscription process, which sees eligible men serve for one year. While Russian conscripts are typically not deployed in active combat, Moscow has used financial incentives and pardons to recruit civilians for the war in Ukraine.
The fact that Russia has avoided large-scale mobilization since the unpopular September 2022 draft, which saw over 261,000 Russians flee the country, suggests a deliberate effort to avoid sparking public unrest. Instead, they have relied on alternative methods to bolster troop numbers.
**Ukraine’s Manpower Shortages**
Unlike Russia, Ukraine faced serious manpower shortages in late 2024 amid a heavy Russian offensive in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian leadership has sought to alleviate the crisis by broadening the mobilization pool and offering new incentives for volunteers. Men aged between 25 and 60 can be drafted into Ukraine’s Armed Forces, while those aged 18-24 may volunteer to serve.
Zelensky noted that Ukraine has around 800,000 soldiers deployed against 600,000 Russian troops. This shows the importance of manpower in this conflict. By mobilizing a significant number of troops each month, Russia is able to maintain a high level of military activity despite suffering close to 1 million casualties during the full-scale war.
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