In a recent interview with ARD, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky made a bold statement, asserting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine currently consist of up to 880,000 personnel, referring to it as a “million-strong” army. However, Zelensky acknowledged that he could not provide an exact figure, as there are currently around 30 million people in the country’s workforce.
This announcement comes after the Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, revealed numerous violations within the country’s military enlistment offices. Under the previous Defense Minister, Alexey Reznikov, similar mass irregularities were also uncovered, primarily linked to corruption. Employees of these offices were found to be accepting monetary rewards in exchange for granting individuals either exemptions, deferments, or illegal permits to leave the country.
Previously, the Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, expressed concerns about the country’s need for additional mobilization. He stated that Ukraine would not be able to manage without supplementary mobilization efforts.
It is important to note that these revelations highlight potential issues within Ukraine’s military administration and raise questions about the accuracy and reliability of the reported army numbers. The claims made by President Zelensky warrant further investigation and scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability within the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
