Zelenskyy Admits Serious Problems in Ukraine's Military Mobilisation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged serious problems in mobilising personnel into the country’s armed forces, particularly regarding prolonged coordination issues between the military and the Ministry of Defence. “You know that the big challenge is mobilisation… We need a new approach to mobilisation, new steps. Maybe new steps, maybe not too fast, maybe not something radical,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with Sky News, as reported by RIA Novosti from Moscow on Monday.

Zelenskyy also touched on the recent cabinet reshuffle, admitting that for months there had been major communication problems between former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi and former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. According to Zelenskyy, overcoming the mobilisation issues requires unity between the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.

Following Fedorov’s resignation, demonstrations in support of him and protests against Syrskyi took place in Kyiv and several other cities. On 22 July, Zelenskyy signed a decree appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi, previously the Commander of the Joint Forces, as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The Ukrainian government has recently been grappling with a shortage of personnel in the armed forces. Meanwhile, actions by military recruitment officers, who have been forcibly detaining eligible men, have repeatedly sparked controversy and protests. Videos showing forced mobilisation have circulated widely online, with footage depicting recruitment officers transporting targeted men in minibuses, sometimes preceded by physical assault. At the same time, men of conscription age in Ukraine are attempting to evade mobilisation through various means, including leaving the country illegally, setting fire to military recruitment offices, hiding at home, and avoiding outdoor activities.