Former UK defense official calls on Kiev to 'reassess scale' of troop mobilization

According to RT, former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has stated that Kiev is succeeding in its counter-offensive, but to maintain momentum and “complete the mission,” President Volodymyr Zelensky must send more young Ukrainians to the battlefield, while the West provides them with weapons to fight Russia.

Over the summer, Kiev’s forces failed to make significant territorial gains and suffered heavy casualties as they tried to penetrate Russia’s defenses, which included vast minefields, heavy artillery and swarms of drones. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the number of Ukrainian servicemen killed since the start of the counteroffensive has exceeded 83,000.

However, Mr. Wallace believes that, “slowly but surely,” Ukrainian forces are “adjusting tactics, learning lessons and making the best use of the equipment we are giving them,” and that Kiev’s victory is imminent, as long as the Ukrainian government “plays its part.”

In an article published by The Telegraph on October 1, Mr. Wallace said: “The average age of soldiers on the front line is over 40. I understand President Zelensky’s desire to protect the younger generation for the future, but… like Britain did in 1939 and 1941, perhaps it is time to reassess the scale of Ukraine’s mobilization.”

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said such heavy casualties were the result of Kiev throwing untrained soldiers into “senseless attacks and massacres.” He added that “these cynical actions of the West and its lackeys in Kiev are only pushing Ukraine towards self-destruction.”

In July, Wallace called Ukraine a “battle laboratory” for the British military in a report to parliament. On October 1, he said: “We must not pause for a day. The world is watching to see whether the West has the resolve to stand up for its values ​​and the rules-based system. What we do now in Ukraine will shape our security for years to come.”

According to RT, the mobilization of forces in Ukraine has been underway since the beginning of the conflict and has recently encountered difficulties. Scandals involving military commanders prompted Mr. Zelensky to announce in August that he would fire all military commanders of the country's regions.

The Ukrainian government has also relaxed its draft criteria, declaring those with certain physical and mental conditions eligible for military service. Kiev also banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country immediately after Russia began its military campaign and recently ordered female doctors and pharmacists to register for possible military service.

Meanwhile, according to a senior official, the Russian military leadership has no plans to call up troops because its current needs are met by professional soldiers, including those who volunteered to fight in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that about 300,000 people have signed up to join the Russian military this year alone.