Summary and Key Points: The conflict in Ukraine is straining both sides, with Ukraine and Russia stretching their resources to continue the fight. Ukrainian Commander Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi noted that Russia has significantly increased its troop numbers, now committing around 520,000 soldiers, with plans to reach 700,000.

-Daily Russian losses exceed 1,000, highlighting issues such as inadequate training. Meanwhile, Ukraine's volunteer force faces manpower shortages, leading to an older average age of infantrymen on the frontlines, estimated between 40 and 45 years.

-Despite the prolonged conflict, Ukraine has avoided a mandatory draft to preserve its younger population for post-war rebuilding.

The Unending Ukraine War 

The fighting in Ukraine is pushing both sides to their limits. Ukraine and Russia are scraping the barrel to find men and weapons to fight the war. 

Balance of Power in the Ukraine War 

In a recent interview, Ukrainian Commander Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi discussed the balance of power between the two sides. He acknowledged the Russian military has significantly increased its count of troops and the resources dedicated to Ukraine over the past 29 months of warfare. 

According to his estimates, the Russian military and pro-Russian separatist forces are currently committing approximately 520,000 troops to the fighting. He also warned that intelligence indicates the Kremlin is seeking to increase that number to almost 700,000 by the end of the year. 

Based on the daily casualty rates, those numbers seem very accurate indeed. Russian forces have been taking more than 1,000 losses daily for several weeks now. In May and June alone, Moscow lost around 70,000 troops. 

“Russia's ability to continue gradually expanding the amount of manpower and materiel it has committed to Ukraine faces significant constraints in the medium to long term,” the Institute for the Study of War assessed in its latest operational update on the war. 

Syrskyi pointed out that Russian commanders continue to use their troops for short-term tactical gains regardless of losses. This assessment highlights the biggest shortcoming in the Russian military: lack of training. Moscow has troops to use as cannon fodder, but it doesn’t have time to train them for something more. As a result, it throws men and resources against Ukrainian defenses, racking up the death bill. 

“The Russian military has extensively relied on refurbishing stocks of Soviet-era weapons and military equipment to sustain the tempo of its offensive operations in Ukraine in order to avoid fully mobilizing the Russian economy and society to a war-time footing, and Ukrainian authorities have noted that Russia is currently not producing enough to cover its current equipment losses in Ukraine,” the Institute for the Study of War added. 

Ukrainian Reservations 

“Syrskyi's statement is not indicative of a sudden increase in the Russian military's presence in Ukraine and is instead representative of the manpower and material disadvantage that Ukrainian forces have faced for over two years,” the Institute for the Study of War stated.

Despite fighting an existential conflict for almost 900 days, the Ukrainian government hasn’t issued a mandatory draft for all males. Its military remains a largely volunteer force. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government have stretched the age limits for military volunteers, but Kyiv has not imposed stricter measures. The reason is simple: They want to have young people alive once the war ends to rebuild the country and mend its wounds. 

However, the lack of troops is forcing the Ukrainian military to fight with older men. A recent intelligence report by the British Military Intelligence estimated that the average age of a Ukrainian infantryman on the frontlines today is between 40 and 45 years old. That is a lot, and the rigors of combat remain the same as in previous conflicts despite technological advances. 

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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