Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Wednesday that he estimates 200,000 soldiers are absent from work without authorization (AWOL), meaning they are off duty without permission.
Speaking in Ukraine’s parliament ahead of the vote to confirm him as the country’s new defense chief, Fedorov also said about 2 million Ukrainians were “wanted” for evading military service.
Ukraine’s military has been under strain for years as it tries to defend the country from a much larger and more powerful enemy. Conditions along the front are harsh, with Kiev forces often trying to hold key positions even though they know they are outnumbered in manpower and weapons.
Rumors of low morale and high desertion rates have long been circulating, but Fedorov’s comments are the first time Ukrainian officials have revealed the scale of the problem.
Under Ukrainian law, all men between the ages of 18 and 60 must register with the military and carry their documents with them at all times, but only men between the ages of 25 and 60 are eligible for mobilization.
Martial law in Ukraine prohibits men aged 23 to 60 who are eligible for military service from leaving the country, but tens of thousands have fled illegally.
After speaking with Fedorov on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the country’s mobilization process needed “broader changes.”
Fedorov is the youngest person to serve as Ukraine’s defense minister, turning 35 next week. He succeeded Denis Shmyhal as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine.
Mr. Fedorov previously served as Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, where he specifically oversaw Ukraine’s successful drone warfare project. In a speech on Wednesday, he said Ukraine’s labor problems make technological progress even more important.
“More robots means fewer losses, more technology means fewer deaths. The lives of Ukrainian heroes are the most valuable,” he said.
According to him, there are currently 500 companies producing drones, 200 companies producing jamming devices and more than 20 private missile manufacturers in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy said strengthening the military’s technical elements will be one of Fedorov’s priorities in his new role.
