2026年1月14日，烏克蘭新任國防部長米哈伊洛·費多羅夫（Mykhailo Fedorov）在議會任命投票前的公開演講中，披露烏克蘭軍隊正面臨前所未有的兵力危機，引起國內外高度關注。費多羅夫在演講中列出幾項令人震驚的核心數據，凸顯軍隊在持續衝突中的嚴重挑戰。

據費多羅夫透露，目前約有20萬名現役士兵被列為擅離職守（AWOL/逃兵），這一數字遠高於過去的預期，直接影響前線作戰能力和後勤支援。與此同時，約有200萬名烏克蘭公民因涉嫌逃避徵兵而被列入通緝名單，顯示國內動員壓力極大，也反映出社會層面對長期戰爭的消耗和抵抗。

在財務方面，國防部面臨約3000億格里夫納的資金缺口（折合約67億至69億美元），這使得裝備升級、部隊訓練以及前線補給等各項軍事支出受到嚴重制約。費多羅夫強調，這一資金短缺問題不僅威脅戰鬥力，也凸顯軍方官僚體系過於龐大和低效率的結構性問題。

面對如此多重挑戰，費多羅夫提出，他上任後的首要任務是全面改革軍事招募制度，簡化行政程序，提升徵兵和留軍效率。同時，他計畫利用無人機、人工智慧及其他先進技術來彌補人力不足，以應對可能持續數年的戰爭壓力。他指出，唯有結合技術創新與制度改革，烏克蘭軍隊才能在持久戰中保持戰鬥力並有效應對日益複雜的安全威脅。

這次公開的數據與改革構想，也讓國際社會重新關注烏克蘭軍隊的人力與財務現狀，並對未來烏克蘭的戰爭動員策略及軍事現代化進程提出了新的觀察與討論。

On January 14, 2026, Ukraine’s newly appointed Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, revealed in a public speech prior to the parliamentary confirmation vote that the Ukrainian military is facing an unprecedented personnel crisis, drawing significant attention both domestically and internationally. In his address, Fedorov presented several alarming figures, highlighting the severe challenges the armed forces are confronting amid ongoing conflict.

According to Fedorov, approximately 200,000 active-duty soldiers have been classified as AWOL (Absent Without Leave), far exceeding previous expectations and directly affecting frontline combat capabilities and logistical support. At the same time, around 2 million Ukrainian citizens have been placed on wanted lists for allegedly evading conscription, indicating immense domestic pressure for mobilization and reflecting societal strain caused by the prolonged war.

On the financial side, the Ministry of Defense faces a budget shortfall of roughly 300 billion hryvnias (equivalent to approximately $6.7–6.9 billion USD), severely constraining military expenditures such as equipment upgrades, troop training, and frontline supplies. Fedorov emphasized that this funding gap not only threatens combat readiness but also exposes structural inefficiencies within the military bureaucracy.

Facing these multiple challenges, Fedorov outlined that his top priority upon taking office is to comprehensively reform the military recruitment system, streamline administrative procedures, and improve the efficiency of conscription and troop retention. Simultaneously, he plans to leverage drones, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies to compensate for manpower shortages and address the pressures of a conflict that could extend for years. He stated that only by combining technological innovation with institutional reform can the Ukrainian military maintain combat effectiveness and effectively respond to increasingly complex security threats.

The disclosure of these figures and proposed reforms has also drawn renewed international attention to Ukraine’s military personnel and financial situation, prompting new analysis and discussion regarding the country’s future mobilization strategies and military modernization efforts.