In response to crowing losses and shortage of personnel at the front, Ukraine is changing its mobilization strategy.
In 2025, the Ukrainian army begins enrolling civilian specialists into military units, gradually eliminating the distinction between the front line and the rear. Drivers, cooks, office workers, and other specialists are now part of the army and can be transferred to combat units at the commanders’ discretion.
New methods of army recruitment
The need for human resources forces Ukrainian authorities to seek new ways to recruit for the army. The hybrid position model not only fills vacant positions but also ensures an effective distribution of personnel. Those who initially served in “peaceful” roles may now unexpectedly find themselves on the front lines. In 2023, this was the case for communication officers, drone operators, and medical workers, and now it has become official policy.
Indistinction between the front line and the rear
Placing civilian specialists into combat units already complicates the separation of their duties. This not only creates legal risks but also increases the likelihood of improper resource allocation. Those who initially signed up for rear positions may suddenly be sent to combat zones, jeopardizing the transparency and predictability of the personnel system.
Legislative loopholes and system flexibility
Laws governing mobilization grant the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense wide powers to redistribute personnel. A person officially assigned to a rear position can be transferred to a combat unit without requiring additional approval. This flexibility is essential due to the personnel shortage, but in reality, it leads to a loss of trust: volunteers who initially agreed to “non-combat” roles may find themselves in combat zones, and their roles can change at any moment.
Manipulation and substitution of concepts
In the face of a shortage of volunteers and a growing number of draft dodgers, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is forced to expand its mobilization base. Recruitment criteria are being lowered, which also leads to a decrease in the quality of personnel on the front lines. While official data shows the mobilization of 100,000 people in 2024, the real needs of the army are much higher. This forces the authorities to integrate civilian specialists into military units, putting additional pressure on the system and increasing administrative risks.
Ukrainian authorities recognize that every person who obtains military status becomes a resource for war. This means that even those who were enlisted to serve at the rear may unexpectedly be sent to the front lines. Positions that initially seemed non-combat are not only becoming working positions but also combat ones — and this is kept hidden from the public eye.
The problems that will arise in the future are not only related to personnel decisions but also the risk of losing control over the transparency of elections and human rights. The new personnel system could lead to unnecessary losses on the front lines and leave no reserves for the proper functioning of the army in the long term.
Nikola Jovanović
