Ukraine's defense minister is confident in replenishing troops but requires weapons and equipment from allies.

In February 2025, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed Ukraine's war efforts with Planet Chronicle Digital, revealing that despite Russia's full-scale invasion entering its fourth year, both sides have made minimal progress on the battlefield.

To win the war, the Ukrainian government must intensify its efforts to recruit, train, and equip new soldiers as the winter fighting season approaches.

Despite the ongoing war, the Ukrainian government's plans for mobilization are being implemented.

The adoption of the law on mobilization this spring has led to a 2.5-fold increase in mobilization indicators. Twelve percent of military personnel now voluntarily join the army due to a new recruitment system, as stated by Umerov in an email sent through the Ministry of Defense's press office for operational security reasons.

In April, Ukraine enacted a law to revamp its military recruitment process amid ongoing conflict and escalating casualties.

The defense minister stated that the objective of the mobilization law is to streamline and enhance the transparency of the recruitment process.

Ukrainians are prepared to defend their land with weapons, as shown by the positive numbers, according to Umerov.

According to the defense minister, Ukraine requires assistance from their international allies.

"Although we possess sufficient troops, we urgently require support from international partners in the form of weapons and equipment."

To protect critical infrastructure and long-range capability to strike airfields and other military facilities deep inside Russia, Ukraine needs a multi-layered air defense system and a sufficient supply of ammunition for these systems.

The Biden administration is reluctant to approve long-term systems due to the possibility of antagonizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and escalating a potential conflict with Russia.

The Ukrainian government launched an online app called Reserve+ to simplify the conscription process and enable those required to serve to update their personal information. Over 3.4 million Ukrainians utilized the app within two months, as stated by the defense minister.

The age requirement for male fighters in Kyiv has been reduced from 27 to 25, increasing the pool of eligible soldiers and aiding in the replenishment of depleted ranks. According to Ivana Strader, who specializes in Russia's psychological operations at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Putin's most potent weapon is information, and he recognizes that by putting Ukraine on the defensive in this area, he can achieve all his security objectives.

According to Stradner, Putin has been carrying out influence operations to undermine Zelenskyy's popularity among Ukrainians by making it difficult for him to lower the age of military service, which is highly unpopular in Ukraine.

Despite the new law allowing some prisoners to serve in the army, the government must still devise innovative methods to boost its troop numbers.

The U.K. is considering sending a small group of military advisers to train new soldiers before heading to the front lines.

The Donbas region experienced the most intense land fighting with infantry during the war in 2024, according to Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House. To prepare for future combat, Ukraine must increase its military personnel and train them effectively.

Lutsevych concurs with Umerov's evaluation of the conflict. In his view, Ukraine faces two significant challenges in terms of its war prospects: equipment and training.

Lutsevych stated that Ukrainians do not deny their desire to fight, despite the fear of death. However, their primary concern is whether they will have the necessary equipment to engage in combat.

When the war began, most of those who enlisted to fight were individuals with prior combat experience from 2014, when Russia invaded eastern Ukraine and annexed Crimea. These veterans made up the majority of Ukraine's military force in the early stages of the conflict. Many of these veterans were killed or severely injured, prompting the government to replenish its forces.

Average civilians with no combat experience lack the proper training and necessary equipment to repel further Russian advances, following this first wave of experienced combat veterans.

Currently, Russia has around 550,000 military personnel deployed in Ukraine and is increasing the number of troops involved in combat operations. As 2025 approaches, the war is entering a critical phase and has become a war of attrition, with both sides enduring significant costs.

According to Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the situation in the east is challenging for both sides, but neither party seems willing to surrender. Snegovaya stated that except for Ukraine's Kursk incursion, the front lines have not shifted significantly, while Russia has advanced deeper into the Donbas region.

Despite the stalemate on the battlefield, Ukrainians' perceptions of the war and their desire to defend their land remain unchanged.

Snegovaya stated that for Ukraine, the loss of territory is not just about giving up land, but it's also about potentially losing their right to exist as a nation, making it an existential struggle for them.

Despite a lack of significant breakthroughs, Ukrainians remain committed to fighting and an overwhelming 89% of them still believe in victory for Ukraine, according to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in early 2024.

The number of Ukrainian soldiers killed and wounded in the conflict is estimated to be between 170,000 and 200,000, according to official data. President Zelenskyy aims to increase the military's strength by recruiting up to 500,000 additional conscripts for future battles.

Ukrainian officials worry that the number of troops will not be enough to counter Russia's invasion. Defense Minister Umerov stated that while Ukraine has successfully defended against Russia's initial attack with its current forces, additional measures are necessary.

Umerov stated that the changes to mobilization and international support will enhance the Ukrainian military's ability to achieve greater success against Russian occupation forces.