Desperation for soldiers may lead to expansion of draft

Ukraine military leaders say army is too small and has too many wounded soldiers.

When the Russian army LYMAN, UKRAINE — mounted a full-scale invasion two years ago, Ukrainian men zealously rushed to recruitment centers across the country to enlist, ready to die in defense of their nation.

Today, with Russia in control of roughly one-quarter of Ukraine and the two armies virtually deadlocked along a 620-mile front line, that spirit to enlist has faded.

Many Ukrainian men are their position, killing everyone evading the draft by hiding but himself and two others. at home or trying to bribe their way out of the battle. Roughly 500 miles away,

Along the frigid and a 42-year-old man afraid of muddy front line, commanders being sent to the front hides say their army is at home outside of Kyiv, distressed. too small and made up of “I feel a sort of a guilt too many exhausted and for being a man . ... I cannot wounded soldiers. As the feel myself free,” said Andrii, war enters its third year, the who insisted on using most urgent and politically his first name only to speak sensitive challenge pressing about dodging the draft. on Ukraine is whether Tens of thousands of other it can muster enough new eligible Ukrainian men are soldiers to repel an enemy estimated to be evading the with far more fighters at its draft, at home or abroad. disposal.

Russia’s population is more than three times as large as

Ukraine’s, and President

Vladimir Putin has shown a willingness to force men to the front if not enough volunteer.

Ukraine’s parliament is considering legislation that would increase the potential pool of recruits by about

400,000, in part by lowering the enlistment age from

27 to 25. But the proposal is highly unpopular, forcing elected officials to grapple with questions that cut to the heart of nationhood: Can they convince enough citizens to sacrifice their lives?

And, if not, are they willing to accept the alternative?

A Ukrainian soldier fighting near the city of Avdiivka

— where soldiers retreated last week to save lives — said his unit was outnumbered by about 5 to 1 when dozens of Russian soldiers stormed

Who will dig the trenches?

Because there aren’t enough new recruits, soldiers on the front line aren’t getting enough rest in between rotations. Two years of grueling battles have left men fatigued and more susceptible to injury.

Commanders say they don’t have enough soldiers to launch offensives, and barely enough to hold positions amid intensifying Russian assaults.

Brigades of 3,000-5,000 soldiers typically are fighting with only 75% of their full strength, said Vadym Ivchenko, a lawmaker who is part of the parliament’s national security, defense and intelligence committee.

Igor Ivantsev, 31, was among a dozen men treated recently at a field hospital near the front. He has been wounded twice in the span of four months. His body aches when he carries his machine gun, but doctors deem him fit to serve. Ivantsev said that of the 17 men he enlisted with, most are dead; the others, like him, have been wounded.

A plan to draft more men

An estimated 300,000 Ukrainian soldiers are fighting along the front line, while others serve elsewhere, lawmakers said. Putin has said twice as many Russian troops are in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military seeks to mobilize up to 500,000 more men, but realizing how unpopular such a move would be, lawmakers are treading carefully.

Under the draft legislation, any individual who fails to respond to call-up notices potentially could have their bank accounts frozen and their ability to travel outside the country restricted.

EFREM LUKATSKY/AP Recruits wait for their turn to pass medical exams in Kyiv earlier this month. As the third year of war begins, the most urgent challenge for Ukraine is whether it can muster enough new soldiers to repel — and eventually drive out — an enemy with vastly more fighters at its disposal.