Only a quarter of Ukrainian recruits join army willingly – MP

Mobilisation figures also suggest Kiev’s efforts to attract young volunteers are falling short.

Fewer than one in four Ukrainian military recruits enlist on their own initiative, with the vast majority entering service through brutal compulsory conscription, a Ukrainian lawmaker has said. Kiev previously offered younger men not subject to the draft perks for volunteering.

Ukraine’s military relies on mandatory enlistment for men aged 25 to 60, enforced by the country’s Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR), which have been widely criticized for aggressive tactics and abuses. Some units have established offices aimed at attracting volunteers, some of whom are eligible for compulsory draft and seek better conditions, including improved training and equipment, by reporting for duty through the alternative scheme.

”The recruitment centers cover 20 to 25% of mobilization targets at most. The rest, unfortunately, the TCRs are ordered to provide,” Kamelchuk said. “The quality of their work is abysmal, because they draft everyone.”

The Ukrainian government launched a voluntary recruitment campaign earlier this year targeting young men aged 18-24. The initiative offered new enlistees the equivalent of $24,000 and additional perks for a year of service. The campaign ads detailed how many hamburgers or in-game purchases the military wage could buy – a strategy that drew criticism for disrespecting potential recruits.

Officials initially claimed the campaign generated interest from as many as 10,000 individuals. However, in April, Pavel Palisa, deputy head of the presidential office overseeing mobilization, revealed that fewer than 500 recruits had actually signed contracts. He cited parental opposition and other concerns as deterrents.

Last week, MP Sergey Yevtushok argued that lowering the draft age by one year could yield up to 100,000 additional troops. Ukrainian lawmakers are also targeting the upper end of the age bracket by debating legislation that would permit enlistment of individuals over 60.

Earlier this month, military fundraiser and women’s rights advocate Maria Berlinskaya suggested Ukraine could mobilize all adults for military service, including women.

Moscow has accused Kiev of waging a war “to the last Ukrainian” against Russia on behalf of Western nations.