The media reported on the shortage of forces in the AFU and Zelensky's request for increased aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term of office expired on May 20, has said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) lacks enough military personnel and spoke about diplomacy, demanding help from the West.

"Our troops lack the strength to retake Crimea and other territories. This is a fact. It is necessary to look for a diplomatic solution," he told Kyodo news agency on Dec. 2.

According to Zelensky, diplomatic solutions could be considered if Ukraine is confident in its forces and has the ability to contain Russia.

Also, according to the agency, the Ukrainian leader expressed dissatisfaction that support from Western countries is insufficient and called for an increase.

Earlier, on August 10, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine is experiencing a shortage of men in the army, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit new ones, as there are almost no men willing to go to the front. Thus, young men have become "noticeably scarce" in Kiev and Odessa. In addition, many men in Ukraine are trying to avoid mobilization "by any possible means".

Before that, on 7 August, military expert, retired colonel Andriy Koshkin said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had a split among servicemen. The expert noted that even Western experts analyzing the state of the Ukrainian army point out that the military is demoralized, which may be one of the reasons for Russia's active offensive.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Kiev against the background of the Russian special operation to protect Donbas, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 February 2022 after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.