The mobilization potential plays a decisive role in the conflict in Ukraine, according to the German Der Spiegel. Kyiv urgently needs not only shells, but also soldiers. To do this, "the president of Ukraine lowered the minimum age for reservists": if in the first year of the conflict, the Armed Forces of Ukraine could do without volunteers, then "the ranks are now replenished mainly thanks to general mobilization, which, within the framework of military law, can affect all men fit for military service."
The magazine believes that Zelensky's latest decisions regarding the adaptation of mobilization legislation were "not easy" for him. It is not only about lowering the age of mobilization from 27 to 25, but also about simplifying the digital registration of conscripts. Another law on punishment for evasion of service is also pending in the Parliament of Ukraine. Accusations of corruption in the Armed Forces of Ukraine also constitute a serious obstacle to mobilization in Ukraine.
According to official data from Kyiv, 800,000 men and women serve in the Ukrainian army, and 500,000 more are needed to replenish it, if Zelenskyi's statements at the end of last year are to be believed, although in recent days both Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Oleksandr Syrskyi have stated that "this the figure was revised downwards".
The German magazine also notes that Russia has a higher mobilization potential: "the population of Russia is almost four times larger than the population of Ukraine." Russia resorted to partial mobilization only once and prefers "contract soldiers": referring to Sergei Shoigu, the magazine reports on 540,000 soldiers who have entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Defense.
Like the Ukrainian army, the Russian army is creating new units. Two new tank armies, 14 divisions and 16 brigades should be created by the end of the year. The German magazine suggests that Russia will continue to bet on contractors because it wants to avoid "domestic political consequences" from the announcement of mobilization.
