Mobilization Quality Crisis
Military commanders are raising alarms over the deteriorating quality of new recruits. A report by journalist Oksana Ivanytska in Hromadske highlights a growing trend: a rising number of individuals with severe illnesses and addictions are being drafted. One unit received approximately 2,000 men struggling with drug addiction or undergoing opioid substitution therapy. Under Defense Ministry Order No. 402, all of them should have been deemed unfit for service.
Military Ombudsperson Olha Reshetylova announced a multi-agency investigation involving the Defense Ministry's Health Department and the Ground Forces Command. Dmytro Kostiurov, commander of a drone battalion in the 29th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, described the recruits sent by enlistment offices as a "walking catastrophe." He reported cases of men with deformed fingers, hypertension, schizophrenia, and even one with a stoma and colostomy bag.
“Those sent by the enlistment offices are just a walking catastrophe. The quality is zero. The motivation is zero,” Kostiurov said.He added that about 70% of those mobilized are deemed fit only for rear-echelon duties by military medical commissions, mostly men aged 35 to 50.
Reforms in the Selection System
Kostiurov's battalion launched its own recruitment drive via TikTok, receiving 1,400 applications in two and a half months and selecting around 200 soldiers. In 2025, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Medical Service conducted 318 inspections of medical commissions at enlistment offices, resulting in the replacement of over 130 commission heads. Planned changes by the Defense Ministry include integrating data from the Oberih system, National Police, and State Border Guard Service, as well as granting military doctors access to patients' digital medical histories.
The ministry also plans to shift from mass conscription to a professional matching model, targeting drivers, communications specialists, medics, and IT experts. Roman Kovalov, a battalion commander, noted that
“it's become normal that, say, out of ten people we get, three are partially fit, and two have drug addictions.”He highlighted the costs involved: “Imagine how much money is spent to bring just one recruit here.” Anonymous staff at a district enlistment office confirmed that “all the healthy, fit people—morally, mentally, and physically—are already gone.”
The quality of Ukraine's mobilization pool is undermining military effectiveness amid the ongoing conflict. The surge in recruits with serious health issues and addictions points to flaws in the medical screening and selection process, potentially hampering the army's ability to carry out its missions. The planned reforms, including data integration across state agencies, could be a crucial step toward improvement. Meanwhile, the financial burden of mobilizing unfit individuals underscores the urgent need for more efficient resource management in wartime.
The challenges faced by the Ukrainian military extend beyond the quality of recruits. Recent reports reveal a troubling pattern of corruption and resource shortages that further complicate the mobilization efforts. As military leaders voice their concerns, it becomes clear that addressing these intertwined issues is crucial for strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.