The war in Ukraine continues three months after Russia’s initial invasion on February 24. Last week, in an effort to bolster their forces, senior Russian lawmakers introduced an amendment that would allow citizens over the age of 40 to enlist in the Russian military. Before the newest proposal, the age restriction was 18-40.
According to the New York Times, allowing older citizens to serve benefits the Russian regime, in part by providing Russian forces with skilled engineers and medical workers to aid in the invasion of Ukraine.
A lack of reserve troops reportedly has Russia scrambling to consolidate battalions. However, the country has made no public remarks regarding a shortage of military personnel to battle in the field.
Still, according to the Institute for the Study of Wars, a Washington D.C.-based research group, a deficiency exists. The Institute did not divulge how it obtained its information but credited an unidentified U.S. defense official.
Since the conflict began, Russia has lost over 15,000 soldiers, per UK defense ministry estimates. According to Forbes, this is more bloodshed and death than the Soviet Union experienced during its nine-year war with Afghanistan.
Due to the nature of war, there is no way to verify the exact numbers. According to I News, the number of Russian casualties could be significantly higher, reaching nearly 30,000. Putin is reportedly holding off implementing a full-out draft for fear of retaliation from the masses.
However, along with amping up military presence, according to The Washington Post, Russian forces have allegedly been stealing grain from Ukraine’s storehouses and sending it to Russia, exacerbating an already dire global food crisis in other parts of the world. Ukraine is a key exporter of grain, with its biggest recipients being the Middle East and South Asia.
Ukrainian officials are accusing Russia of deliberately attempting to smother other countries’ attempts to import or consume its goods.
Russia has seized a prominent portion of south Ukraine in a fight for territory, including Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk. Collectively these regions make up the “breadbasket” of Ukraine and account for a significant portion of its grain production. Ukraine’s deputy agricultural minister, Taras Vysotskiy, said that the Russians had exported about 441,000 tons of grain from those four regions.
Prominent political figures such as Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, have denounced Russia’s actions and emphasized the impact their actions would have on Ukraine and the global community.
In an address at the World Economic Forum, she stated, “The consequences of these shameful acts are there for everyone to see: Global wheat prices are skyrocketing, and fragile countries and vulnerable populations suffer most.”
According to The New York Times, as of Tuesday, Ukraine is facing substantial economic losses due to the invasion from Russia. The current total is around $1 trillion.
This is an estimated five years’ worth of economic output, according to Oleh Ustenko, the economic advisor to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. This approximation is based on a combination of direct losses, such as destruction of infrastructure, and indirect losses, such as a reduction in investments and an inability to export goods effectively.