Ukraine needs to mobilize approximately 250,000 additional troops to turn the tide against Russia, a senior NATO military source told British news agency The Times.
The estimate comes amid evaluations from Western intelligence that found Kyiv’s forces are outmatched in personnel and equipment in most Ukrainian sectors, particularly near the eastern and southern fronts.
Sustained Pressure
The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates Russia has lost about 1.2 million troops since President Vladimir Putin started the war in 2022, compared with roughly 600,000 Ukrainian casualties.
Despite heavy losses, officials believe Moscow can sustain its current rate of attrition for at least another year.
Its forces were advancing slowly but steadily last year, seizing territory in regions of eastern Ukraine.
One Ukrainian officer from the eastern city of Pokrovsk told The Times that Russia is “fully exploiting” advantages at the “technical, operational, and strategic levels.”
“The Russians hold complete superiority in aviation and tactical ballistic missiles,” the officer said. “They strike our logistics and command posts with impunity using guided bombs.”
More Fighters, Armaments
The European Parliament recently approved a 90-billion-euro ($106.1 billion) loan package for Kyiv, with 60 billion euros ($70.7 billion) earmarked for military procurement, but officials say additional forces remain essential to ultimately disrupt Russia’s offensive.
Retired US Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATO’s former supreme allied commander in Europe, emphasized that the lack of human resources remains a critical constraint for Kyiv.
“Russia, all they have to do is call North Korea for more [soldiers],” he said.
Breedlove also commented on the Western alliance’s hesitation to supply advanced weapons to Ukraine.
“We need to give them the ability to strike deeply and precisely into Russia. Ukraine has proven when they’re given the capability, they use it very well,” he explained.
