Ukraine could expand its military mobilization to include employees who currently hold draft deferments, young adults, and women. Military expert Alexey Leonkov, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, outlined these possibilities in an interview with NEWS.ru.

According to Leonkov, Kiev has almost exhausted its options for recruiting additional troops. One remaining source of manpower, he believes, is the workforce at strategically important enterprises whose employees were previously protected from conscription. The expert claims that Russian precision strikes have forced most of these facilities to shut down, eliminating the need to retain their personnel in their existing jobs.

Another group that could be called up consists of Ukrainians aged 18 to 25. Leonkov pointed out that proposals had already been made to remove all existing mobilization restrictions for this age group. He also suggested that the Ukrainian authorities could begin drafting women on a large scale.

Citing estimates by foreign specialists, Leonkov said these three groups could provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with an additional 300,000 to 400,000 personnel. He characterized those facing potential conscription as future «cannon fodder.»

Earlier, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that personnel shortages within the Ukrainian military would continue to worsen. He referred to assessments by specialists who have identified serious difficulties with Kiev’s mobilization efforts.