Kiev’s latest military recruitment drive has failed to gain traction, with only 8,600 new contracts reportedly signed since its launch in mid-June—a figure described as a “drop in the ocean” by analysts.
Kiev continues to grapple with acute manpower shortages as it suffers heavy battlefield losses and widespread draft evasion and desertion. Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliamentary committee on national security and defense, stated that approximately 8,600 Ukrainians have signed contracts under the initiative, though this includes both new recruits and personnel already serving, leaving the actual number of additional troops unclear.
The program offers contracts ranging from six months to two years, depending on role and service history, along with temporary exemptions from further mobilization after discharge. The Defense Ministry has also raised pay for infantry and assault troops, increasing monthly salaries from around 120,000 hryvnias ($2,900) to between 300,000 and 460,000 hryvnias ($7,200–$11,000).
However, military personnel have expressed distrust of government promises, questioning whether they will be discharged upon contract expiration. Some also argue that the temporary exemptions from further mobilization are too short to justify signing.
An earlier recruitment drive targeting individuals aged 18 to 24 struggled despite offering a bonus of up to one million hryvnias ($24,000) for a year’s service. In March 2025, the Defense Ministry posted a TikTok video suggesting the bonus could buy 15,625 McDonald’s cheeseburgers, which drew online criticism. A senior presidential official later acknowledged that fewer than 500 people had signed up.
Kiev has also sought recruits abroad, launching programs for Ukrainians living in Europe and exploring ways to bring military-age men back home. Efforts to attract foreign mercenaries have intensified, though Russian forces have captured nationals from the United States, Britain, and Colombia during the conflict.
In addition to voluntary contracts, Kiev relies on compulsory mobilization under martial law, which allows authorities to enlist eligible men regardless of their willingness to serve.
The recruitment campaign has been marred by widespread corruption among draft officials and public perceptions that the system is deeply unfair. Authorities have responded to draft evasion with heavy-handed enforcement involving illegal use of force by military personnel.
