Ukraine's battle for survival: A call for younger defenders amid rising casualties

Up until recently, 400,000 Russian soldiers were involved in the invasion of Ukraine, but a British expert in "The Guardian" on Saturday assessed that the number might soon increase to 500,000. He emphasizes that Kyiv must find a way to acquire new soldiers.

The monthly losses of the Ukrainian army are about 1,300 soldiers and the number of wounded is at least three times greater, reports the British newspaper. In the face of the planned Russian military offensive, which is to occur any moment, Ukraine urgently needs new soldiers.

As Matthew Savill from the think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), quoted in the article, points out, the intensity of Russian attacks may already suggest the beginning of an offensive. Thus, the long-awaited aid package for Ukraine, approved on Wednesday by the US Senate, may be insufficient.

Savill estimates that "for now, this is not a counteroffensive package for Ukraine, and there are no real reasons for a Ukrainian counteroffensive this year. Next year will be tough, and it may happen that Ukraine will have to give up more of its territory" before the situation stabilizes.

The RUSI expert indicates that another problem of the Ukrainian army is the advanced age of soldiers, since "the average age in the Ukrainian army is 43" years. Savill emphasizes that "for this reason, Ukraine will have to mobilize the younger portion of society, which it has been trying to protect until now".

Facing problems with recruiting new soldiers, a phenomenon such as interest in the elite Azov Regiment is rare. In an interview with "The Guardian", the regiment's soldiers said there is a long waiting list to join. They are all volunteers, notes the British newspaper.

The head of the regiment's staff, thirty-year-old Bohdan "Tavr" Krotewycz explains that Azov's success in acquiring new soldiers is a derivative of the way of command. Unlike the conservative Soviet command style, the Azov regiment emphasizes solidarity and mutual respect. Tavr says that in his unit, everyone is listened to, regardless of rank, and caring for the regiment's cohesion contributes to the soldiers' good morale.

Another component of Azov's success is the respect and mutual care of soldiers. Their age is also important, as the commander says his soldiers are about 35 years old, and "a young approach means having ambition and something to prove".

However, as "The Guardian" emphasizes, the innovative way of commanding better Ukrainian units is not enough to win the war. Neither is the fact that support from the West is irregular, which frustrates many Ukrainian soldiers.

Staff Sergeant Maslo estimates that the disparity in artillery potential between Ukraine and Russia at the front line remains "roughly at the same level". He believes it is a difference of 5 to 1 in favour of the Russians, but in places where the fighting is most intense, this difference may be as much as 10 to 1. The Azov Regiment fights on the front line in the Sieriebriańsk forest, where, as "The Guardian" writes, the battles have turned the vast pine forest into an apocalyptic scene.

Maslo mentioned that the disparity was caused by the suspension of US aid to Ukraine for an extended period (it was only unblocked this week) and the slow increase in weapons production in Europe.