Fedorov said the ministry is facing a severe budget shortfall and that hundreds of thousands of soldiers are currently listed as absent without leave, while millions of Ukrainians remain outside the draft system. Men aged 25 to 60 are eligible for military service, but voluntary enlistment accounts for only a small share of the country’s available manpower. Analysts say the situation worsened after travel restrictions were eased last summer, allowing tens of thousands of men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country. To offset shortages, Ukraine is mobilizing around 30,000 troops a month, although reports of forced conscription have fueled public controversy. Experts warn that without substantially higher pay and long-term social guarantees, desertion and weak recruitment are likely to persist, even as Russia continues to attract recruits through generous financial incentives.