“Army is running out of people”: Authorities need to hold honest conversations with the Ukrainian people – official

This opinion was shared by Kharkiv City Council deputy Artem Revchuk on Espreso TV.

“Right now, the situation is extremely dangerous, and the absence of a straightforward conversation between the authorities and the public is a major issue. The government needs to be honest with people about what’s going on. The Ukrainian people deserve that. If we don’t face the facts and take responsibility for the future of our state, things will get much harder. The president needs to thoroughly analyze the situation and make it clear to the public that without their involvement, victory is impossible. Reserves need to be prepared. As Zaluzhnyi said, it takes six months to a year to properly train a soldier,” Revchuk explained.

The Ukrainian army has made significant progress since 2022, but the biggest challenge now is the lack of motivated personnel. Revchuk noted that in 2022, his circle consisted solely of volunteers. Today, the situation is critical: over 100,000 people have left military units after being “caught” on the street and sent to the front without choice. According to him, such individuals are a burden to commanders.

“We need to communicate that joining the army doesn’t mean guaranteed death. It’s crucial to focus on motivating new soldiers. Losing contact with family and material things is a significant challenge. Frontline soldiers need better support, and motivational packages should be offered to those joining the army. ‘Boosters,’ like those implemented in Russia, could be a good idea. If you have proper conversations with military personnel and veterans, they’ll tell you what inspires people to mobilize. People need to be allowed to choose their unit and plan their future. Clear service terms are necessary so recruits don’t feel like they’re slaves forever,” he emphasized.

Currently, Ukrainians rely heavily on Western aid, but everyone must do their part, or even the current situation could collapse. Revchuk warned of the fine line between how the front is holding now and how it could look tomorrow. The war impacts everyone, especially men, with the choice being whether to serve in the Ukrainian army to defend their country or, as seen in the occupied areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, end up conscripted into the Russian army.

• The day before, reports revealed that law enforcement agencies conducted a nationwide operation to shut down illegal channels for smuggling men out of the country. Over 600 simultaneous searches were carried out as part of the crackdown.