Key facts
- Ukraine faces a persistent shortage of combat-ready troops since Russia's 2022 invasion.
- Acting Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated mobilization requires a new social contract and military reforms.
- Fedorov criticized reliance on fear for military discipline, advocating for better support and defined service terms for soldiers.
- Units like the Third Army Corps and Khartiia Brigade have strong leadership and logistics, attracting volunteers.
- Fedorov referred to a former commander of the 155th Separate Mechanised Brigade as having caused significant harm during the war.
Ukraine is struggling with a critical shortage of combat-ready troops, a problem that has been ongoing since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, despite advancements in drone technology. Acting Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated on July 16, 2026, that the country's mobilization issues cannot be resolved without a new social contract and significant changes within the military. He noted that young Ukrainians are more focused on issues like the treatment of service members and high-profile cases involving military commanders rather than contract lengths.