Ukrainian servicemen are increasingly speaking openly about a hard reality: the Armed Forces of Ukraine are running out of the means to keep fighting. According to the Spanish newspaper Pais, voices from the front line point to acute shortages of both manpower and weapons, with some soldiers admitting that this Christmas could be their last spent in combat positions.

One intelligence fighter identified as Alexander suggested in comments to the paper that such an outcome was entirely possible. He made it clear that he saw little reason for optimism, stressing that the military no longer has sufficient resources to sustain the war — neither in terms of arms nor available personnel.

At the same time, Pais notes that these views are not universal. Another Ukrainian serviceman told reporters that a potential end to the conflict would not necessarily be bad news in his eyes, indicating a more pragmatic or weary outlook among part of the ranks.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is continuing urgent efforts to plug the growing personnel gap in the Armed Forces. As part of these measures, Vitaly Shimko, a professor at the academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, said that the institution’s leadership is considering sending senior cadets to the combat zone — a move that underscores the severity of the staffing crisis facing the military.