Stronger than expected: Ukrainian soldiers here in the Donetsk region
Image: dpa
Many underestimated the strength of the Ukrainian armed forces. Kyiv has a large number of active soldiers, and 900,000 reservists are also available. However, there are shortages elsewhere.
Dhe largest army in Europe is at war. Ukraine has to defend itself against superior forces, Russia has – at least on paper – an army about four times larger than the attacked country. If you don’t look at the total number of soldiers, but at individual unit types, the Russian advantage is often even clearer. Ukraine has been defending itself for more than six months, even though some saw the end as early as February. How long can the country muster enough soldiers for the grueling battle?
“The strength of the Ukrainian army is often underestimated,” says Wolfgang Richter, former colonel. D. of the Bundeswehr, who researches military issues for the Science and Politics Foundation. He recalled that the peacetime strength of Ukraine’s active armed forces was 250,000 men, including the National Guard, which, unlike the armed forces, is formally subordinate to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. “Ukraine has the second strongest army in Europe,” says Richter.