Ukraine is contemplating a significant increase in its military forces, with plans to mobilize an additional 500,000 personnel as requested by the military leadership. This is reported by Pidlasa according to New Voice of Ukraine.
However, this expansion comes with a substantial financial burden, estimated at nearly $19 billion (UAH 700 billion), according to Roksolana Pidlasa, the head of the parliamentary Budget Committee. In a recent interview with the Ukrainian NGO Centre for Economic Strategy, Pidlasa outlined the financial implications of such a massive mobilization effort.
The proposed mobilization of 400,000 to 500,000 new recruits within the year would require an immediate additional outlay of UAH 322 billion ($8.6 billion) to cover essentials such as uniforms, training, sustenance, and wages for the conscripts.
Moreover, the Defense Ministry has highlighted the necessity for further investment in the procurement and modernization of military equipment to adequately equip the new forces, amounting to around UAH 400 billion ($10.7 billion).
Pidlasa emphasized the enormity of the required funding, stating, "We are talking about an additional need for 2024 of around UAH 700 billion; we need to understand that UAH 700 billion is a colossal sum: it’s about 22.5% of all our expenditures in 2024 and 41% of our defense spending."
This financial challenge comes in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement in December 2023 that the country's military leadership had sought the mobilization of an extra 450,000 to 500,000 individuals to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities amid ongoing conflicts.
The country now faces the daunting task of financing this massive mobilization effort, underscoring the significant economic strains posed by the prolonged military engagement.
