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
Israeli media: IOF's top lawyer hands in resignation over leak of Sde Teiman video
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone strike targets motorcycle in Kawnin, South Lebanon.
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.

Ukrainian army struggling with manpower shortage: WSJ

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Wall Street Journal
  • 25 Mar 2024 01:34
3 Min Read

The Wall Street Journal says the Ukrainian armed forces desperately need recruits, but "political dithering" is leaving frontline units in a dire state.

  • x
  • WSJ
    Ukrainian soldiers of the 71st Jaeger Brigade fire a M101 howitzer toward Russian positions at the frontline, near Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) addressed the Ukrainian military's increasing struggle with a manpower shortage and hindered recruitment efforts due to "politics, demographics and Ukrainians' increasing reluctance to join the military."

The report emphasized that the Ukrainian armed forces desperately need recruits, but "political dithering" is leaving frontline units in a dire state, highlighting that a draft law aimed at expanding conscription is still stalled in the Ukrainian parliament after months of debate.

According to the newspaper, the law's proposed changes are "somewhat modest", as the draft age will be reduced from 27 to 25 years, soldiers will be eligible to leave the Ukrainian army after three years of service, and penalties will be imposed on men who avoid conscription.

However, the newspaper highlighted that the Ukrainian parliament is struggling against large segments of the population unwilling to fight, even to approve these amendments to the law.

The Wall Street Journal mentioned that the failure of the major counteroffensive launched by Ukraine last year and the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers have shaken Ukrainians' confidence in their ability to regain territory.

Related News

Ukrainian conscription crisis sees 100,000 youth flee in 2 months

Valery Zaluzhny: From Ukraine top general to presidential prospect

It noted that men aged between 18 and 60 have been prevented from leaving the country since the start of the war, although only those under 27 are eligible for conscription, with most of the country's youth exempted.

The newspaper confirmed that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men continue to evade conscription. Some reported being beaten or detained for several days until they signed conscription papers.

The WSJ mentioned that groups from across the Ukrainian society are lobbying parliament for exemptions under the new law. Companies have also suggested paying a tax to keep their workers away from the front lines.

While parliament debates the amendments, soldiers and their families demand reinforcements, with about 31,000 soldiers killed in combat, as per Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though military analysts estimate the total number to be much higher.

Moreover, tens of thousands of soldiers have been injured, many of whom are no longer fit for combat, while those who remain are drained and lack artillery shells, with shipments from the United States delayed.

Read more: Macron thinks Ukraine could fall very quickly: Politico

  • Ukrainian Armed Forces
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Ukraine war
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

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