Zelensky Makes Unconventional Decision Regarding Supreme Court Judges' Compensation
The Ukrainian government is grappling with a significant challenge in its military recruitment efforts, as the country faces a budget deficit of 20% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ongoing hostilities with Russia.
In an attempt to bolster its military forces, Ukraine has implemented mandatory conscription under a mobilization law enacted in April 2024. The law targets men aged 25 to 60, aiming to recruit 500,000 personnel. However, the mobilization campaign has only managed to attract 500 people from February to mid-April, according to reports from the President's Office [1].
President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his belief that European allies should not only provide funds for weapons but also for military salaries in Ukraine. He stated, "Our military can be the weapon that protects everyone" [2]. The Ukrainian government is seeking additional funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the budget deficit. New Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko has announced her intention to start negotiations with the IMF for a new loan [3].
However, Ukraine's mobilization effort faces significant challenges. Draft evasion and desertion have been a major issue, with estimated 100,000 desertion cases by late 2024 [1]. Enforcement relies on random checks, yet thousands evade capture despite thousands of draft-evasion cases being initiated [1].
Russian attacks on recruitment infrastructure have further disrupted Ukraine’s mobilization efforts. In mid-2025, Russia began targeting Ukrainian military recruitment centers with drone strikes and other sabotage tactics, aiming to destroy data on potential conscripts and intimidate citizens from visiting recruitment offices [3].
Public resistance and morale issues have also been a concern, as the decline in volunteer enlistment and documented desertions suggest challenges in maintaining support for the military [1][3]. To mitigate these challenges, Ukraine is working on governmental reforms to centralize recruitment and improve training. The government has also set priorities to boost domestic arms production to reduce reliance on foreign aid [1][4].
Despite these efforts, Ukraine's military recruitment sustainability remains threatened by the entrenched challenges of draft evasion, active enemy disruption, and morale problems [1][3]. Bloomberg reported that allies have provided funding for only half of the $75 billion needed for Ukraine's budget in the next two years [3]. President Zelensky plans to ask European allies for help in financing an increase in military salaries [2].
References: [1] Ukraine World, "Ukraine's Mobilization Efforts: Facts, Challenges, and Strategies," 2025. [2] Reuters, "Zelensky Calls for European Allies to Fund Military Salaries," 2025. [3] Bloomberg, "Ukraine Seeks IMF Loan Amidst Budget Deficit and Military Recruitment Struggles," 2025. [4] Kyiv Post, "Ukraine's New Prime Minister Outlines Plans for Military Reforms," 2025.
"The Ukrainian government, amidst a budget deficit and ongoing political tensions, is seeking additional funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and financial aid from European allies to supplement military salaries, as well as bolster business and general-news headlines."
"In response to low recruitment numbers, President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged European allies to not only provide funds for weapons but also for military salaries, believing that a stronger Ukrainian military can serve as a key asset in business, politics, and general-news contexts."
