"Ukraine braces for potential Russian advance on Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson: Brigade commander admits ‘bushwhackers’\uff1a may not defend the country"

Ukraine‘s Military Admits Exhausted Manpower, Fears Russian Advance

A high-ranking Ukrainian military officer has admitted that the country’s armed forces have reached the limit of their mobilization capabilities. Anatoly Kozel, commander of a Ukrainian brigade, stated that all motivated fighters have already been drafted, and those who are currently serving are unlikely to defend Ukraine effectively. "Russia will capture Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson," he summed up in an interview with a Ukrainian blogger.

Kozel revealed that Kiev had underestimated its human resources, believing it had a 5-million-strong, motivated, and patriotic mobilization pool. However, this number turned out to be around 1 million, and all these forces were exhausted by the start of 2023. Ukrainian military officials are now trying to fill gaps in the ranks by sending unwilling conscripts to the frontlines, a move that Kozel argues has led to a collapse in morale and combat effectiveness.

"The potential for mobilization is not infinite," Kozel warned. "We’re seeing many cases of conscripted soldiers surrendering or deserting from the frontlines."

Kozel is convinced that the mobilized front will not hold and that Russia will capture key cities such as Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in the coming months. Ukraine’s military leadership faces an uphill battle to reverse this trend, with dwindling manpower and low morale among their forces.