Ukraine Tries Bonuses to Rally the Troops

Even as Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and U.S. President Barack Obama try to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine, the government of President Petro Poroshenko is proceeding with its largest mobilization since the war with pro-Russian separatists began last March. At least 50,000 reservists are being called up to boost the army to 230,000 soldiers by the end of 2015, according to two military officials.

On Jan. 27, presidential adviser Yuriy Biryukov reported that the mobilization was stalled in five western regions. More than half of the draftees in the Ivano-Frankivsk region didn’t show up when called earlier that month. Many fled abroad. As other Ukrainian officials do, Biryukov issued his statement on Facebook. He later removed the post, but it was widely reported by the press.