Ukraine lack armored vehicles for newly drafted recruits: Forbes
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Ukraine's new mandatory conscription law has drastically increased Ukraine's manpower with not enough vehicles to accommodate new soldiers.
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Ukrainian soldiers with the 71st Jaeger Brigade fire a M101 howitzer at Russian positions on the front line, near the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, on March 22, 2024 (AP)
Tens of thousands of newly enlisted Ukrainian troops are filling infantry ranks amid hardware shortages, Forbes reported on Tuesday.
Under a new Ukrainian mobilization law, mandatory conscription has been lowered to the age of 25 years, which would increase Ukraine's ground force by almost 10%. However, amid a shortage of armored vehicles, the military cannot keep pace with the growing rate of manpower.
According to Forbes, five new brigades were formed, all of which were infantries rather than mechanized, which further proves the Ukrainian army's inability to balance its manpower with its mechanic power. Moreover, the 153rd Brigade, which was mechanized, was reportedly disintegrated into an infantry brigade.
The media outlet claimed that Ukraine's policy of de-mechanization would not be detrimental if it were able to be defensive, however, Kiev has suffered a series of drastic losses against Russia.
Read more: Ukraine army to enlist convicts in exchange of parole
Ukrainian troop casualties reach 3,725 in week-long DPR conflict
Last week, Russia's Defense Ministry declared a victory for the South Group of Forces, Yug, over Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), with Ukraine sustaining an estimated loss of 3,725 soldiers in the region during the previous week.
According to the ministry's statement, Yug forces continued their advance into enemy territory, defeating both manpower and equipment in the DPR and repelling nine counterattacks by Ukrainian troops.
"The units of the Yug Group of Forces continued to advance into the enemy territory during active combat operations, defeated manpower and equipment ... in the Donetsk People's Republic ... repelled nine counterattack [by Ukrainian troops]," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the losses of Ukrainian armed forces "lost up to 3,725 servicepeople over the past week."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the "extremely difficult" situation faced by Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine has been compelled to send reinforcements to the area as Russia's presence grows.
Read more: Frontline situation 'on the edge', Ukrainian intel chief says: NYT
