A member of the Verkhovna Rada, Vadim Ivchenko, has revealed that only about 10% of Ukrainians who join the country’s armed forces do so voluntarily.
Ivchenko said it has become difficult for Ukraine to rely on voluntary enlistment as the country continues its war with Russia. As a result, authorities have increasingly turned to compulsory recruitment to fill the shortage of soldiers.
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He made the remarks on March 12, 2026, noting that voluntary enlistment currently provides only a small portion of the troops needed by the military.
Conscription Struggles to Fill Military Ranks
Ukraine requires men aged 25 to 60 to enlist for military service. However, this measure has not fully addressed the shortage of troops.
According to Ivchenko, only 8% to 10% of the required soldiers join the military willingly. This has forced authorities to rely more heavily on mandatory conscription.
Military service has become less popular among many citizens after several years of intense fighting.
Government Considers Tougher Measures
Ivchenko suggested that the government should introduce stronger incentives and stricter penalties related to military service.
He proposed increasing financial benefits and support for soldiers to encourage more people to enlist voluntarily. At the same time, he recommended tougher penalties for draft evaders.
Possible measures could include restricting access to loans, freezing bank accounts, and applying other legal sanctions to those who avoid military service.
Desertions and New Recruitment Policies
Forced recruitment has created challenges for Ukraine’s armed forces. Some conscripts resist joining the military, while others leave their units after deployment.
In January 2026, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Mikhail Fedorov, said authorities were searching for about two million people who had been called up for service but failed to report.
He also revealed that more than 200,000 soldiers had deserted the army, worsening the shortage of troops on the battlefield.
In response to the manpower crisis, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree in February 2026 allowing citizens over the age of 60 to join the armed forces for a one-year period.
