Weary troops stuck on front line as Ukraine struggles to find manpower
By James Waterhouse
Under the rich, leafy cover of the Ukrainian spring, an artillery unit awaits.
Only a fraction of their job is firing rockets from their 50-year-old launcher. Most of their time is spent digging a new bunker into the hillside.
They’re outgunned and outmanned by the Russian invaders, 5km (3 miles) away in the eastern Donetsk region, who are inching closer.
Incoming American ammunition is expected to help, but how the Ukrainian government is addressing its need to recruit is controversial.
A new mobilisation bill passed earlier in April was criticised for not including a limit on time served. A clause aimed at demobilising soldiers after three years was dropped at the army’s request.
Now, war-weary troops have told the BBC the military needs to “rethink” how it recruits.
Despite Kyiv lowering the conscription age to find replacements, it’s not just a numbers game.
