Ukraine's newly appointed defence minister has delivered a stark assessment of the challenges facing the nation's military, revealing significant issues with desertions and draft evasion as the conflict with Russia approaches its fourth year.
Major Challenges Outlined to Parliament
In a statement to Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday, 14th January 2026, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov laid bare the scale of the problems within the armed forces. He disclosed that the military has contended with approximately 200,000 cases of troop desertion. Furthermore, an estimated 2 million people have avoided conscription, highlighting a critical manpower issue.
Fedorov, the 34-year-old former digital transformation chief appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the start of the year, identified other deep-rooted problems. These include excessive bureaucracy, a Soviet-era management style, and significant disruptions in supplying equipment to troops along the vast 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front line.
"We cannot fight a war with new technologies but an old organizational structure," Fedorov told lawmakers, emphasising the need for systemic reform.
Funding Gap and Defence Sector Growth
The minister also revealed a severe financial shortfall, stating the defence ministry faces a funding gap of 300 billion hryvnia (£6.9 billion). This announcement came on the same day European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the EU would dedicate most of a major new loan programme to support Ukraine's military and economy over the next two years.
Despite the challenges, Fedorov pointed to remarkable growth in Ukraine's domestic defence industry since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. He noted that the country has transformed from having just seven private drone companies and two electronic warfare firms at the war's outset to nearly 500 drone manufacturers and about 200 electronic warfare companies today.
Entire new sectors have emerged, including around 20 private missile producers and more than 100 companies manufacturing ground-based robotic systems.
Context of Appointment and Broader Aims
Fedorov's appointment was part of a broad government reshuffle initiated by President Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader stated the changes were designed to sharpen the government's focus on security, defence development, and diplomacy. This realignment coincides with a renewed, U.S.-led push to find a settlement to the conflict.
Credited with spearheading the army's drone technology and introducing successful e-government platforms, Fedorov now faces the monumental task of modernising the military's structure while addressing immediate frontline needs and a substantial budget deficit.
