Merely quarter of Ukrainian recruits join military on free will
(MENAFN) Only around 25% of Ukrainian military recruits enlist voluntarily, while the vast majority are conscripted through coercive means, according to Ukrainian MP Yury Kamelchuk. Ukraine’s military depends heavily on mandatory enlistment of men aged 25 to 60, enforced by Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCRs), which have faced widespread criticism for using aggressive and abusive tactics.
Some branches have launched alternative programs to attract volunteers—often targeting individuals already eligible for the draft—by offering better training, gear, and overall service conditions.
“The recruitment centers manage to meet only 20–25% of mobilization goals, and the rest are forced to rely on TCRs,” Kamelchuk stated. He criticized the TCRs’ performance, saying they conscript indiscriminately without concern for quality.
In an effort to bolster its ranks, the Ukrainian government earlier this year introduced a voluntary enlistment program for 18- to 24-year-olds, offering financial incentives worth $24,000 and other benefits for a year of service. However, the campaign—criticized for its tone, including ads comparing the military salary to hamburgers and video game purchases—had little success. Despite officials claiming 10,000 expressed interest, fewer than 500 signed up by April, with parental objections cited as a major barrier.
Some lawmakers, such as MP Sergey Yevtushok, have suggested reducing the draft age by one year to potentially gain 100,000 new troops. Others are proposing expanding the upper age limit to allow enlistment beyond 60. Activists like Maria Berlinskaya have even floated the idea of mobilizing all adults, including women.
Russia has accused Ukraine of fighting a proxy war on behalf of the West, claiming Kiev is sacrificing its population in a prolonged conflict.
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