Ukraine's Western allies are not imposing new sanctions on Russia in part because of Kyiv's refusal to lower the mobilization age to 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Valasz Online published on June 10.

With the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine updated its mobilization legislation and lowered the minimum age for compulsory military service from 27 to 25.

Yet, some partners, including the U.S., still criticize Kyiv for setting the age threshold too high.

"I do not believe that we should mobilize people from the age of 18, as the leaders of other countries have thought," Zelensky said.

"However, when it comes to sanctions, as Western partners list the reasons why they did not decide to impose them, they include that Ukraine did not mobilize people aged 18 and above," he added.

Zelensky said that it is not so much the number of people as the "weapons and technology" that are important, as proved by the recent Operation Spiderweb, during which Ukraine reportedly hit 41 Russian military aircraft with first-person-view (FPV) drones hidden in trucks in Russia

He added that "money and exerting pressure" were also crucial for forcing Russia to end its war.

"The sanctions would target the money that the Russians are using to finance the war," Zelensky said.

Personnel shortages have dogged Ukraine throughout its fight against Russia. Although Ukraine adopted a major bill reforming the draft in April, mobilization slowed down in autumn, leaving front-line units depleted.

Russian forces significantly outnumber Ukrainian units and have been able to advance at record rates in eastern Ukraine while absorbing heavy losses.

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The Kyiv IndependentWojciech Jakóbik

Russia mobilizes around 40,000-45,000 men for its military every month, while Ukraine mobilizes about 25,000-27,000, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on May 27.

Moscow has only intensified its war effort despite calls by Kyiv, the U.S., and European partners for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step toward a peace deal.

"When the U.S. sends signals that it wants to do something positive with Russia, then Russia ramps up its mobilization," Zelensky said, according to the NV outlet.

While Ukraine estimates that Russia has suffered close to 1 million casualties during the full-scale war, it has been largely able to offset the losses by fresh contract soldiers.

In late 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to increase the size of Russia's Armed Forces to about 2.4 million, including 1.5 million military personnel.

Russia also aims to conscript 160,000 men for compulsory military service this year, marking the largest conscription campaign in 14 years.

Russia conducts conscription twice a year, in spring and fall, requiring eligible men to serve for one year. Although Russian conscripts are typically not deployed in active combat, Moscow has relied on financial incentives and pardons to recruit civilians for the war in Ukraine.

Following the unpopular September 2022 mobilization, which saw over 261,000 Russians flee the country, Putin has avoided another large-scale draft, instead using alternative methods to bolster troop numbers.

Unlike Russia, Ukraine faced serious manpower shortages in late 2024 amid a heavy Russian offensive in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian leadership has sought to alleviate the crisis by broadening the mobilization pool and offering new incentives for volunteers.

Men aged between 25 and 60 can be drafted into Ukraine's Armed Forces, while those aged 18-24 may volunteer to serve, according to the latest legislation. Zelensky said earlier this year that Ukraine has around 800,000 soldiers deployed against 600,000 Russian troops.

If Germany sends Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Russia has a major Crimean Bridge problem

A statement from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 26 about long-range strikes inside Russia resurrected a long-held hope in Ukraine — that Berlin is finally about to send Kyiv its Taurus missiles. “There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine — neither by the U.

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

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Military

Ukrainian attack targets Russian facility 800 kilometers from border that supplies gunpowder manufacturers. Ukrainian drones struck the same Russian chemical facility for the second time in five months, hitting a plant that supplies materials for military explosives production.

Ukrainian drones target Splav rocket plant in Russia’s Tula for the third time this month. Geolocated video suggests the same workshop was hit last night as in a prior attack on NPO Splav site. Alternatively, one of the Russian equipment storage bases might have been a target.

Drones hit Russia’s Shahed drone factory 1,200 km from Ukraine again. The facility in Tatarstan’s Yelabuga was previously targeted in April.

Ukraine faces third consecutive night of massive Russian drone attacks. Russian forces conducted their most extensive missile and drone strikes of the full-scale war over the past 48 hours. Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts sustained another Russian attack overnight on 26 May

German Merz: Ukraine now free to strike deep inside Russia with Western long-range weapons. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that these strikes only target military infrastructure and not civilians unlike Russian attacks.

ISW: Russia ramps up missile strikes and propaganda in bid to crush Ukrainian morale and Western will. With battlefield progress stalled, Moscow turns to messaging warfare.

As of 26 MAY 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 981850 (+1000)
    • Tanks: 10858 (+4)
    • APV: 22641 (+8)
    • Artillery systems: 28320 (+51)
    • MLRS: 1397 (+1)
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 1171
    • Aircraft: 372
    • Helicopters: 336
    • UAV: 37631 (+264)
    • Cruise missiles : 3256 (+53)
    • Warships/boats: 28
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 49843 (+92)

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine intelligence: Russia can theoretically mobilize 25 million people. Only 3 million would be combat ready. Since the full-scale invasion began, Moscow mobilized 1.3 million troops and nearly one million of Russian soldiers were killed or wounded during this time, while the Kremlin remains committed to the war of attrition in Ukraine.

Belarus has nuclear carriers but no warheads, says Ukrainian intelligence. Ukraine’s intelligence service says that nuclear weapon carriers including aircraft and Iskander missiles are present in Belarus but no warheads have been deployed there despite Russian deployment agreements.

International

Netherlands sends last batch of F-16s to protect Ukraine amid intensified Russian attacks. The completion of the 24-aircraft donation comes as Ukrainian forces face daily Russian air attacks, with the jets providing enhanced survivability over outdated Soviet aircraft.

Sweden allocates half a billion dollars for Ukraine defense and security. The funding will be distributed across multiple international procurement initiatives rather than direct weapons transfers.

Latvia urges EU to shut visa door on Russians. Latvian interior and foreign ministers cite security risks as grounds for halting all new visas to Russian nationals.

EU warns US: “Peace through strength” only works if Ukraine gets more support. EU defense chief Kubilius says Ukraine’s partners must step up, or peace will remain out of reach.

Merz: Hungary and Slovakia could lose EU funds over pro-Russia stance. EU won’t tolerate Hungary and Slovakia blocking Russia sanctions, the German Chancellor says.

Dutch defense chief seeks to include Zelenskyy to June NATO summit in The Hague. Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated though that Zelenskyy’s participation would likely occur outside the main session with all 32 member states.

Macron: Trump now realizes Putin lied to him about Ukraine peace readiness. French President said this in response to Trump’s recent comments that Putin “has gone absolutely crazy” and “needlessly kills a lot of people” following a deadly 25 May attack on Ukraine.

Trump slams Putin as “crazy” after deadly Russian attack, but also blames Zelenskyy and Biden. He believes something “happened” to Putin, while claiming Zelenskyy worsens the war.

EU Defense Chief: “Russia not as powerful as thought” – won’t win Ukraine war. European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius says the EU must avoid a “chaotic divorce” with America while preparing for reduced US military involvement in European defense.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Russia’s mobilization reserve may include as many as 25 million people — those with military obligations or past service — from its total population of 145 million. However, only about 3 million of them are considered properly trained and combat-capable, according to the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, the country has mobilized 1.3 million people, while sustaining nearly one million casualties in killed and wounded, said Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko in an interview with Ukrinform.

“Russia has approximately 145 million inhabitants. The mobilization resource consists of 25 million people. These are those who have relevant military registration or related specialties. And these are the labor resources that drive the economy. But only 3 million are actually trained,” Ivashchenko said.

Ivashchenko also detailed significant constraints in Russia’s defense production capabilities.

“They are trying to reach maximum output, but it’s difficult for them. They need investments, machine tools, components, and there are problems with this. Electronics and specialized chemistry are particularly challenging,” Ivashchenko stated.

The Foreign Intelligence head also revealed that 80% of Russia’s current military equipment consists of older systems with reduced capabilities, retrieved from storage facilities, repaired, and deployed to combat zone, while only 20% represents modern military systems.

Regarding ammunition production, Russia manufactures approximately 3 million artillery shells of 122mm and 152mm caliber annually. The country supplements this domestic production with 2.5 to 3 million additional shells from North Korea each year.

Ivashchenko reported that Russia has acquired 6 million shells from North Korea since the full-scale war began. North Korea has also provided military hardware including 120 units of 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems and 120 units of M1991 240mm multiple rocket launcher systems.

Earlier, Dutch military intelligence warned that Russia is producing significantly more artillery than needed for its war in Ukraine, with support from other countries, and is moving new military units toward NATO borders, especially in the Baltic states and Finland. Dutch officials stressed that, while an immediate attack is not expected, Europe must prepare for the possibility of future Russian aggression.

Recently, US intelligence also indicated that Russian President Putin is prepared to continue the war against Ukraine through at least the end of 2025, viewing the conflict as central to his personal legacy and the future of his regime.

Despite significant losses and international sanctions, Putin is determined to achieve his objectives in Ukraine and shows no signs of willingness to negotiate a meaningful peace. The Kremlin is mobilizing resources and adapting its strategy to sustain military operations, while also intensifying efforts to undermine Western support for Ukraine through propaganda, cyberattacks, and political interference.