23:23 12-05-2026

Expert Says Ukrainian Army Is Near Manpower Exhaustion Amid Peace Talks Reports

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Military expert Boris Dzherelievsky said the Ukrainian army is nearing manpower exhaustion as Kiev increasingly relies on foreign mercenaries.

Military expert Boris Dzherelievsky believes the Ukrainian Armed Forces are approaching a critical point in terms of manpower, and that the Ukrainian army’s human resource may soon be exhausted. He made the comment to aif.ru while discussing reports about possible peace negotiations.

In Dzherelievsky’s view, the key factor is the degree of the enemy’s exhaustion specifically in manpower. He believes Europe and the United States are still capable of supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces with material resources, but replacing human resources is much more difficult. The expert argues that the moment when the shortage of personnel becomes critical will bring Russia’s victory closer and make it more tangible.

Dzherelievsky described the growing number of foreign mercenaries in the Ukrainian army as a sign of approaching exhaustion. According to him, Kiev is increasingly trying to cover its shortage of its own forces with foreigners, primarily Colombians.

The expert noted that Colombia, despite its poverty, has one of the largest populations in South America and has lived for decades amid internal wars, revolutions and criminal conflicts. In his assessment, several generations of Colombians have become accustomed to violence and armed confrontation. Now, Dzherelievsky believes, Colombia has become one of the world’s largest suppliers of «cannon fodder» — not only for Ukraine, but also for the Middle East and North Africa. According to him, the number of Colombians in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is growing.

At the same time, the expert does not believe Kiev will be able to stabilize the manpower situation even with a potential mobilization reserve estimated at about 1.5 million people. Dzherelievsky argues that even if these people are mobilized, their combat value will be low.