Ukraine grapples with motivating new millitary recruits
troops moved through the forest in east Ukraine at dawn, imitating assault rifle fire while searching for non-existent Russians between the trees.
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Unlike the thousands of Ukrainians who enlisted when Russia invaded in February 2022, these fresh army recruits training in the war-ravaged Donetsk region were forced to sign up.
Facing severe manpower shortages, Ukraine has been mobilising thousands of men to replenish the army's ranks after two costly years of fighting.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a new law in May lowering the minimum age that men can be drafted and military recruiters prowl the streets checking documents.
The new members of the 49th Carpathian Sich assault battalion were among those summoned — or hauled off — to army recruitment centres.
Press officer Vasylyna Nakonechna, 32, said the task of picking out motivated «fresh blood» to join the battalion was increasingly difficult.
«Competition is fierce between the brigades. It's first come, first served,» she told AFP.
— 'Dead or wounded' —
Her battalion was made up entirely of volunteers when Russia invaded. But no longer.
«They're all dead or wounded,» Nakonechna said.
When seeking replacements, «we choose the youngest first,» she said.
«Then we ask if they have any ailments, or have any particular training.You can see straight in their eyes those who want to go to the
