Ukraine estimates that 200,000 of its soldiers are absent with out official go away (AWOL), that means they have left their positions with out permission to take action, the nation’s new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov revealed on Wednesday.
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Speaking within the Ukrainian Parliament forward of the vote that confirmed him because the new defense chief, Fedorov additionally stated some 2 million Ukrainians are “wanted” for avoiding army service.
The Ukrainian army has been underneath pressure for years because it tries to defend the nation towards a a lot greater and stronger enemy. Conditions alongside the frontline have been brutal, with Kyiv’s troops typically making an attempt to carry onto key positions at the same time as they discover themselves outmanned and outgunned.
Rumours of low morale and excessive desertion charges have been swirling round for a very long time, however Fedorov’s feedback mark the primary time any Ukrainian official has disclosed the dimensions of the issue.
Under Ukrainian legislation, all males between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to register with the army and at all times have their paperwork on them, though solely these aged 25 to 60 are topic to mobilization.
Ukraine’s martial legislation bars all males aged 23 to 60 who are eligible for army service from leaving the nation, however tens of 1000’s have fled illegally.
After assembly with Fedorov on Wednesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “broader changes” had been wanted to the nation’s mobilization course of.
Fedorov is the youngest individual ever to function Ukraine’s defense minister — he’ll flip 35 subsequent week. He changed Denys Shmyhal, who in flip turned Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy.
Fedorov beforehand served as Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, a task through which he oversaw, amongst others, Ukraine’s profitable drone warfare mission. Speaking on Wednesday, he stated Ukraine’s manpower issues made technological advances much more essential.
“More robots means fewer losses, more technology means fewer deaths. The lives of Ukrainian heroes are of the highest value,” he stated.
He stated there have been now 500 Ukrainian corporations producing drones, 200 companies making jamming gear and over 20 privately-owned missiles producers.
Strengthening the technological part of the army will likely be one in every of Fedorov’s priorities in his new position, Zelensky stated.