According to Pentagon estimates, Ukraine has a sufficient resource of soldiers to maintain its combat capability for another 6-12 months. According to an official cited by The New York Times , after this period, the country may face an acute shortage of human resources needed to continue fighting against Russian forces. Such a forecast raises concerns in Washington and Kyiv, given the importance of Western support in the form of supplies and military aid.
The US military and intelligence say that the war has ceased to look like a hopeless situation: Russia is making steady gains, and with each passing day, as Ukraine's forces are depleted, the sense of pessimism increases. Media representatives note that the Ukrainian army is experiencing difficulties with the recruitment of new soldiers and the provision of existing units.
Depletion of resources and losses among Ukrainian soldiers
The New York Times estimates Ukraine's losses in the war at the level of 57,000 dead. Although this figure is about half of Russia's losses, it is significant for a country with a smaller population. It is also noted that due to constant attacks and territorial losses in the east of Ukraine, the morale of the Ukrainian military is noticeably declining. The drop in motivation is explained not only by the enemy's offensive, but also by the fear that international support will gradually decrease.
Recruiting new soldiers and forming new units is another challenge for the Ukrainian military command. However, despite these difficulties, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly assured of their determination to oppose Russia as much as is necessary to protect their territories and population.
The issue of international assistance remains an important aspect. Despite the high level of support for Ukraine from the US and European countries, concerns are growing every day that the flow of supplies may decrease. And although many Western countries promise to support Ukraine "as much as it takes", there are fears in the political environment whether such a policy will last for the next year.
According to the Pentagon, the next 6-12 months will be critical for Ukraine. It is necessary to find new ways of replenishing the soldier resource and modernizing the army in order to prevent the rapid depletion of human resources.
