Ukraine Faces Acute Troop Shortages as War Enters Fifth Year
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy overhauled the Defence Ministry to address severe manpower deficits and widespread draft evasion as Ukraine struggles to maintain combat-ready units.
Ukraine is experiencing a critical shortage of combat-ready troops as the conflict with Russia enters its fifth year. Some military units are operating at only half strength, a deficit that restricts the military to localized operations and prevents Kyiv from fully leveraging its drone technology advantages to mount sustained offensives.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the crisis by shaking up the Defence Ministry in July, replacing Mykhailo Fedorov with Yevhenii Khmara. The reorganization aims to implement urgent reforms in mobilization, training, and army structure, with Khmara intending to consolidate the military into fewer, more potent units. The manpower crisis is driven by demographic decline, desertion, and widespread draft dodging; former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov estimated that two million men are evading service.
Territorial gains remain marginal and contested. Since the start of 2026, Ukraine has retaken approximately 820 square kilometers, while Russian forces have occupied roughly 990 square kilometers. In Pokrovsk, the Da Vinci Wolves battalion has reported severe personnel shortages. Russia is also facing recruitment difficulties, relying on high pay to attract volunteers to maintain a force of approximately 700,000 men.
