Ukraine to Draft 160,000 New Troops as Russia Gains Ground in Donetsk

Written By Lisa Murimi

Ukraine is set to draft 160,000 additional troops as Russian forces push forward in eastern Ukraine. 

On Tuesday, Russia announced it had fully captured the mining town of Selydove in the Donetsk region, intensifying pressure on Ukraine’s military, which is already grappling with limited manpower and resources.

Oleksandr Lytvynenko, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council, informed parliament that recruitment would span the next three months, aiming to reinforce Ukrainian defenses amid ongoing Russian advances. 

This mobilization follows April legislation requiring men aged 25 to 60 to register for potential conscription, a measure enacted as Russia bolsters its presence in the east.

Complicating Ukraine’s situation, U.S. sources estimate that 10,000 North Korean troops have arrived in eastern Russia, with thousands more en route to the Kursk region, a recent hotspot of Ukrainian incursion since August. 

South Korean officials claim these troops are undergoing training in Russian uniforms to maintain secrecy.

Meanwhile, Moscow’s control of Selydove and surrounding villages shifts focus to Pokrovsk, a critical transportation hub just 18 kilometers away. 

Ukrainian forces now face intensifying challenges as the eastern front heats up, further straining resources and necessitating an expanded military draft.