Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Former UK SecDef urges Ukraine to conscript more 'young blood'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Oct 2023 14:31
4 Min Read

Former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace says this measure is necessary to "finish the job" after claiming that Kiev is succeeding in its counteroffensive.

  • x
  • Britain's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (AFP via Getty Images)
    Britain's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (AFP via Getty Images)

Former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace claimed that Kiev is making progress in its counter-offensive. However, to achieve their objectives, President Vladimir Zelensky needs to deploy a larger number of younger Ukrainians into the conflict, while the Western nations supply them with the necessary weaponry to overcome Russia.

During the summer months, Kiev's military forces have been unsuccessful in making significant advances in the territory and have incurred substantial casualties in their attempts to breach Russia's fortified defenses. These defenses include extensive minefields, heavy artillery, and numerous drone attacks. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the death toll among Ukrainian servicemen has exceeded 83,000 since the initiation of the counteroffensive.

Nevertheless, Wallace is of the opinion that Ukrainian forces have been gradually adjusting their strategies, learning from their experiences, and making effective use of the equipment provided to them. He believes that Kiev's triumph is on the horizon as long as the government fulfills its responsibilities.

In an article published in The Telegraph on Sunday, Wallace said, “The average age of the soldiers at the front is over 40. I understand President Zelensky’s desire to preserve the young for the future, but… just as Britain did in 1939 and 1941, perhaps it is time to reassess the scale of Ukraine’s mobilization.”

In July, Wallace referred to Ukraine as a "battle lab" for the British military in a report presented to the parliament.

“Let us not pause for one day,” he stated on Sunday.

“The world is watching to see if the West has the resolve to stand up for our values and the rules-based system. What we do now for Ukraine will set the direction for all of our security for years to come,” he added. 

Related News

UK Trained Over 60k Ukrainian Troops Since 2014

Everything wrong with Ben Wallace's commentary on Netanyahu

Ukraine struggles to recruit troops and regain momentum

Alexander Titov of The Conversation has lately argued that despite Ukraine's claims that Putin will call for mobilization, it is in fact Kiev that is struggling to maintain its troops on the battlefield.

According to Titov, despite the large number of reservists the Kremlin can draw on, it is clear that another round of recalls would be very unpopular, especially in the run-up to the next presidential elections in May 2024.

Putin previously called nearly 300,000 men, 1% of the eligible reservists at the beginning of Ukraine's hyped counteroffensive. Ukraine's long-discussed counteroffensive is nearing its end without any significant progress, BBC concluded in a field report conducted at the east front lines in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian disinformation campaign has been suggesting that Putin will once again call for mobilization, even though this never occurred.

Spreading rumors about an impending Russian mobilization is clearly part of Ukraine's psychological warfare, but the more this is done without anything happening, the less credible it becomes.

Titov argued that it is Ukraine, on the contrary, that is struggling to recruit enough troops to regain momentum.

In addition, he added that Russia is intensifying its military production and may enter 2024 with more heavyweight weapons, ammunition, and troop experience. He finds it hard to fathom why Russia would choose unpopular mobilization when it can "withstand anything Ukraine and its Nato allies can throw at it?"

Read next: Ukrainian field general says counteroffensive not WWII movie

  • Ben Wallace
  • Ukraine crisis
  • counteroffensive
  • Ukrainian troops
  • UK
  • Ukraine

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS