Ukraine urged to mobilize youth amid frontline shortages
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the army is the key to war success. He also boldly asserted that Ukraine must mobilize even the youngest soldiers and send 18-year-olds to the front lines.
4 December 2024 15:12
- Money and ammunition for Ukraine are not enough if there are no soldiers on the front lines, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken during an interview with Reuters. He admitted that this could be challenging.
According to Blinken, the current lack of sufficient soldiers is becoming as crucial for the Ukrainian army as providing it with weapons and ammunition. Increased supplies will be of no use if there's no one to fight.
18-year-olds from Ukraine to head to the front? Americans call for mobilization
- Even with money, even with ammunition, there must be people on the front lines to face Russian aggression, stated the U.S. diplomat. He noted that the situation on the Ukrainian front is not the best right now, so it's time for full mobilization.
In Ukraine, since the full-scale Kremlin invasion of Kyiv, general mobilization has been in effect. This means that men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country.
Individuals within this age range may be drafted into the military. Until now, however, men under 26 have not been joining the Ukrainian army.
As reported by RP.pl, in recent months, Russia has taken the initiative on the front. The aggressor is achieving successes, seizing additional areas of Ukrainian land.
The Russian offensive is primarily ongoing in Donbas. However, the Russian army is likely preparing, according to Ukrainian intelligence, for an advance towards Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The Joe Biden administration has already begun pressuring Ukraine to change the law and enable the mobilization of the youngest adult men. A representative from the Washington authorities assessed that this is necessary to address the staffing shortages in the Ukrainian military.
This information was reported last week by the AP agency and the British newspaper "Financial Times." The goal of the current administration, in the last weeks of its term, is to equip Ukraine with the gear that will allow it to fight throughout the next year.
A White House official, quoted by AP, believes, however, that - having ensured the supply of weapons - Kyiv must also ensure it has enough soldiers. He noted that Ukraine needs to increase its military personnel by more than 160,000 troops, as mentioned by the Ukrainians.
Similar comments are directed toward Ukraine by its other partners. Considering the extension of the front to Kursk Oblast - the Ukrainian foothold on Russian territory may not be sustainable.
Source: RP.pl/Reuters/AP/"Financial Times"
