As Ukraine enters its third year of war with Russia, troop fatigue in a country of almost forty million people is becoming increasingly apparent.

Ukraine defends a frontline of 480 kilometers from Kharkiv to Donetsk and Luhansk. It also needs to defend its border with Russia and Belarus. The scale of this defense effort is immense, with about nine hundred thousand active troops.

Frontline Challenges

Despite their fatigue, the troops on the front continue to display unwavering bravery and dedication. On the battlefield, the average age of soldiers is 30-45, with some troops over 50 serving in the military. The conscription age for the draft in Ukraine is 25, with President Zelenskyy and parliament voting in favor of the bill on May 30th. There are two ways a man in Ukraine can be drafted: when they turn 25 or if they complete military training or military university. However, not many people complete the military training. By the time someone turns 25, they have started their careers and families, making it much more difficult to be drafted.

Recruitment and Training Issues

Speaking to soldiers on the frontline, they mentioned how no new recruits have come because many people can avoid the draft, whether legally or illegally. The database in Ukraine is not very effective. "I believe men aged 18-25 should attend military training for three months in Lithuania or Latvia." Then, they would be more steadily prepared and understand the war.

A few soldiers agreed that because no training is required for men aged 18-25, when they turn 25 and become eligible for the draft, they are afraid because they do not know what will happen. They do not understand how to use a weapon, lack knowledge of tactics, and want to avoid the unknown. Soldiers insist that there is more to military service than just serving on the frontlines; they can do backend work, logistics, supply deliveries, and other activities that do not involve being on the frontline.

Public Sentiment

Speaking with citizens in Kharkiv city, they mentioned that going into the army is a death sentence, with a one in ten chance of coming back. They believe that anyone sent to the frontline is essentially dead. The soldiers I spoke with on the frontline said younger people lack patriotism for their country and proper training to prepare for war. Residents of Kharkiv mentioned that they lack patriotism due to corruption in their government. This presents Ukraine with a difficult position: sending younger people to military service or risking losing more territory to Russia.

This lack of patriotism is particularly concerning given recent attacks, such as a children’s hospital targeted by a Russian missile. Questions arise about whether draft and recruitment numbers have increased since such attacks.

Future Prospects

In America, it is a law that anyone over the age of eighteen must sign up for the draft. The draft is only needed when America has troop shortages and has not been used since 1973. In 2001, there were enough Americans willing to volunteer after 9/11 that another draft was not needed to combat terrorism. Ukraine's future lies in a younger military, one that can make advancements, use technology more effectively, and generate new ideas to overcome threats. There is hope that more young people will step forward to serve and protect their country and people. Young Ukrainians, who do not remember what it was like to live under Soviet Union occupation that ended in 1991, have the potential to shape a brighter future.

Having Western troops train younger men aged 18-25 will better prepare them for war and help them understand what to do. There are many positions they can hold while in service that do not involve being on the frontline.

Conclusion

Will this be enough for a country at war with Russia?

While Russia’s draft is for people aged 18-30, they have a more active and dynamic military. We can see advancements in all regions of Ukraine. Western weapons will only get Ukraine so far when combating a younger military. Ukraine wants Western Forces to relieve troops from training and repairing equipment so that more troops can serve on the frontlines and other positions. However, this would only be a short-term solution, as soldiers' age and fatigue will not change. It will also threaten the lives of soldiers who are under Ukraine’s conscription age.

Before Western Forces send troops to Ukraine, President Zelenskyy and the parliament must lower the military draft age again or require military training for all people aged 18-25. While this is a very unpopular opinion for Kharkiv civilians, in many modern militaries, the conscription age is eighteen. War is war; there are no winners, only losers. If Ukraine wants to protect its freedoms, it must be willing to do whatever it takes. With a Western troop presence and a younger Ukrainian military, Russia can be pushed out of Ukraine's sovereign territory.

Why should Western Forces be willing to risk their own lives for another country?

Russia will not stop at Ukraine; they have shown the need and desire to advance further to restore the borders of the Soviet Union. Russia is a threat to peace in Europe and millions of lives.