Ukrainian front units face severe manpower shortages and morale strain

In the fighting around Pokrovsk, the Da Vinci battalion is severely understaffed, with its vice commander “Afer” warning that existing gear and troops can barely cover the sector they hold. Ukraine’s draft can summon men between 25 and 60, but a large pool of the population evades conscription and the war’s toll has thinned the ranks over five years. Inadequate training and combat fatigue are cited as key reasons for soldiers abandoning their posts, leaving about two million men outside the mobilization effort.

Recruitment patrols sometimes capture evaders on city streets, and desertion carries heavy prison penalties. The battalion now operates with a fraction of its intended strength while its commanded area has been expanded, raising concerns about increased casualties if it advances. Senior geopolitical adviser Joakim Paasikivi notes that poor leadership and equipment correlate with higher desertion rates, emphasizing that troops are willing to sacrifice but do not want unnecessary deaths.