“
General staff shortage in Ukraine is 30%, and this vacuum can be filled by workers from Bangladesh, Nepal and other poor countries.
According to journalist Yuriy Butusov, the key role in the recent ones battles for Kupyansk fighters from Colombia and Brazil played.
Advertising:
From January 1, 2026, the amount of a one-time payment in the event of the birth of a child increased up to 50 thousand hryvnias.
This collection of motley news illustrates one and the same domestic problem: Ukraine is in dire need of people. There has been a shortage of soldiers at the front for a long time. There is already a shortage of workers in the rear. Too many citizens are leaving the country. Not enough future citizens are born in the country.
And even if a full-scale war can be stopped in 2026, the lack of people will not become a less urgent and painful problem for us.
Any problem involves two alternative approaches to its solution: whip and gingerbread, coercion and encouragement. The depressing situation with demographics is no exception.
The main domestic whip designed to prevent the outflow of people from Ukraine is well known: the partial closure of borders from February 2022. Some of us criticize this extraordinary measure, others approve of it.
When last summer the state allowed 18-year-old boys to cross the border–22 years, many considered it a blow to Ukraine’s future. Although such a decision was made not out of a good life, but hoping to stop the mass preventive departure of teenagers before coming of age.
The catch is that the partial border closure model itself is not suitable for long-term use. In the long term, the country can live either with open borders or with borders that are almost completely closed: as in the USSR and the countries of the social camp.
In order for this whip to really save us from depopulation, Ukraine would have to go further – and ban the departure of teenagers on completely dubious legal grounds. And later it would be necessary not to let Ukrainian women of childbearing age out of the country either.
In general solution demographic problem by the whip method is closely related to the return to the disenfranchisement of women. With the rejection of everything that civilized humanity achieved in the second half of the 20th century. Ban abortions. Limit access to contraceptives. Stigmatize and discriminate against the childless. No “my bodymy choice”.
Where every man is a potential soldier, every woman must be a producer of future soldiers. If the body of a conscript citizen belongs to the Motherland, then the body of a fertile citizen is ready!
Fortunately, such obscurantism is in the spirit “The Handmaid’s Tale” it is not being seriously discussed in our country yet. But some misogynistic voices are already being heard in Ukraine.
For example, the popular priest-blogger from Ternopil Oblast Oleksiy Filyuk recently named the Russian invasion as “punishment for the 12 million abortions” performed by Ukrainian women after independence.
However, theoretically, the whip can be used not only by the Ukrainian state, but also by our Western partners. It is no secret that Kyiv has certain hopes associated with the anti-immigration policy of European countries.
It is believed that rather strict measures against migrants would allow Ukraine to return a significant part of its errant citizens.
Even if Europe does not start mass and forced deportation of Ukrainians to the Motherland (such a scenario is still unlikely), they may be put in such conditions when they will be forced to leave the territory of the EU and go home.
However, there is one significant “but” here. First of all, the anti-immigration whip affects the most passive and helpless. Those who could not adapt to life in a foreign country. Those who are too dependent on social benefits. Those who do not have the strength to resist the onslaught of someone else’s bureaucratic machine.
Therefore, the effect of negative selection will work: the weakest will be forced to return to the Motherland, while the most tenacious will be able to stay abroad, with all truths and falsities.
This, most likely, will not close the huge demographic gap.
Of course, in addition to the whip, there is another potential tool for combating depopulation – gingerbread. In this case, a person is not forced to choose Ukraine and the Ukrainian future, but encouraged to make such a choice voluntarily.
Attract They encourage They stimulate Motivate. They convince that there is no need to leave Ukraine. They prove that it is better to return to Ukraine. They explain that it is advisable to immigrate to Ukraine from less prosperous countries. They demonstrate that Ukraine is a place where it is worth living, working and giving birth to children.
In theory, it looks nice and cute. But in practice, our state did not manage to create powerful incentives and motivations until February 24, 2022; and in the midst of a brutal war with numerous victims and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, he was ready
And even in the event of a hypothetical armistice with the Russian Federation, attracting people to Ukraine will remain a very difficult task.
This task is complicated by the fact that its implementation does not fit well with the ideological agenda that has dominated our society in recent years.
A significant part of humanitarian intelligentsia, passionate activists, and behind them also state officials, consider Ukrainian identity as something exclusive.
It is believed that not everyone deserves such an honor. The criteria of true Ukrainianness are formed and gradually strengthened. There are calls to exclude from among Ukrainians all those who do not meet these requirements: for example, they speak the wrong language, read the wrong authors, listen to the wrong music or adhere to the wrong political views.
Ideal Ukraine is seen as a national and cultural monolith that will crush enemy hordes.
But if you need to attract as many people as possible to Ukraine, you will have to bet on inclusiveness. Accept into the ranks of Ukrainians very different and dissimilar individuals who are ready to associate themselves with an independent Ukraine.
Do not make strict demands on them. Show maximum tolerance towards fellow citizens and potential fellow citizens. Come to terms with the fact that your country will not resemble a monolith, but rather a colorful blanket. To recognize that people will not fight for the right to be part of a bloodless Ukraine: this Ukrainian state must compete for them and adapt to them.
Ideological battles in social networks give the impression that there is a huge queue of people willing to link their fate with the Ukrainian project. And a strict but fair national jury has to decide who is worthy of this and who is not.
But in fact, there is no queue and none is expected in the near future.
It is indicative that even now the exclusive approach to Ukrainian identity does not work when solving the main domestic problem – the replenishment of our Armed Forces.
“You cannot mobilize Russian speakers.” “You can’t mobilize honor “You can’t mobilize those who don’t honor Stepan Andriyovych Bandera enough.” “You can’t mobilize those who celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.” “You can’t mobilize those who voted for the showman Zelenskyi in 2019.” “These are fake Ukrainians, they can’t be trusted to protect the country.” “These are the wrong citizens, they are not worthy to wear the uniform of the Armed Forces.” you can’t give weapons.”
How often do we hear similar calls in our public space? Let’s say directly: no. When it comes to mobilization, one hundred percent inclusiveness triumphs.
It turns out that absolutely everyone can defend Ukraine with weapons in their hands, sacrifice themselves for Ukraine and die for Ukraine – regardless of national origin, native language, cultural preferences, religious characteristics or political views.
Almost no one mentions the standards of true Ukrainianness, and it is clear why: there is already an acute shortage of soldiers at the front, and pickiness would be fatal for us.
So, popular national ideologues are actually rejected when it comes to the real vital interests of the Ukrainian state.
Unfortunately, the lack of manpower at the front is only a special case of the same general problem: the lack of people. And in the future, it is unlikely to be solved without sacrificing high ideals.
But Ukraine will not be the first country that will have to choose between dogma and practical necessity.
Mykhailo Dubynyanskyi
”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
General staff shortage in Ukraine is 30%, and this vacuum can be filled by workers from Bangladesh, Nepal and other poor countries.
According to journalist Yuriy Butusov, the key role in the recent ones battles for Kupyansk fighters from Colombia and Brazil played.
Advertising:
From January 1, 2026, the amount of a one-time payment in the event of the birth of a child increased up to 50 thousand hryvnias.
This collection of motley news illustrates one and the same domestic problem: Ukraine is in dire need of people. There has been a shortage of soldiers at the front for a long time. There is already a shortage of workers in the rear. Too many citizens are leaving the country. Not enough future citizens are born in the country.
And even if a full-scale war can be stopped in 2026, the lack of people will not become a less urgent and painful problem for us.
Any problem involves two alternative approaches to its solution: whip and gingerbread, coercion and encouragement. The depressing situation with demographics is no exception.
The main domestic whip designed to prevent the outflow of people from Ukraine is well known: the partial closure of borders from February 2022. Some of us criticize this extraordinary measure, others approve of it.
When last summer the state allowed 18-year-old boys to cross the border–22 years, many considered it a blow to Ukraine’s future. Although such a decision was made not out of a good life, but hoping to stop the mass preventive departure of teenagers before coming of age.
The catch is that the partial border closure model itself is not suitable for long-term use. In the long term, the country can live either with open borders or with borders that are almost completely closed: as in the USSR and the countries of the social camp.
In order for this whip to really save us from depopulation, Ukraine would have to go further – and ban the departure of teenagers on completely dubious legal grounds. And later it would be necessary not to let Ukrainian women of childbearing age out of the country either.
In general solution demographic problem by the whip method is closely related to the return to the disenfranchisement of women. With the rejection of everything that civilized humanity achieved in the second half of the 20th century. Ban abortions. Limit access to contraceptives. Stigmatize and discriminate against the childless. No “my bodymy choice”.
Where every man is a potential soldier, every woman must be a producer of future soldiers. If the body of a conscript citizen belongs to the Motherland, then the body of a fertile citizen is ready!
Fortunately, such obscurantism is in the spirit “The Handmaid’s Tale” it is not being seriously discussed in our country yet. But some misogynistic voices are already being heard in Ukraine.
For example, the popular priest-blogger from Ternopil Oblast Oleksiy Filyuk recently named the Russian invasion as “punishment for the 12 million abortions” performed by Ukrainian women after independence.
However, theoretically, the whip can be used not only by the Ukrainian state, but also by our Western partners. It is no secret that Kyiv has certain hopes associated with the anti-immigration policy of European countries.
It is believed that rather strict measures against migrants would allow Ukraine to return a significant part of its errant citizens.
Even if Europe does not start mass and forced deportation of Ukrainians to the Motherland (such a scenario is still unlikely), they may be put in such conditions when they will be forced to leave the territory of the EU and go home.
However, there is one significant “but” here. First of all, the anti-immigration whip affects the most passive and helpless. Those who could not adapt to life in a foreign country. Those who are too dependent on social benefits. Those who do not have the strength to resist the onslaught of someone else’s bureaucratic machine.
Therefore, the effect of negative selection will work: the weakest will be forced to return to the Motherland, while the most tenacious will be able to stay abroad, with all truths and falsities.
This, most likely, will not close the huge demographic gap.
Of course, in addition to the whip, there is another potential tool for combating depopulation – gingerbread. In this case, a person is not forced to choose Ukraine and the Ukrainian future, but encouraged to make such a choice voluntarily.
Attract They encourage They stimulate Motivate. They convince that there is no need to leave Ukraine. They prove that it is better to return to Ukraine. They explain that it is advisable to immigrate to Ukraine from less prosperous countries. They demonstrate that Ukraine is a place where it is worth living, working and giving birth to children.
In theory, it looks nice and cute. But in practice, our state did not manage to create powerful incentives and motivations until February 24, 2022; and in the midst of a brutal war with numerous victims and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, he was ready
And even in the event of a hypothetical armistice with the Russian Federation, attracting people to Ukraine will remain a very difficult task.
This task is complicated by the fact that its implementation does not fit well with the ideological agenda that has dominated our society in recent years.
A significant part of humanitarian intelligentsia, passionate activists, and behind them also state officials, consider Ukrainian identity as something exclusive.
It is believed that not everyone deserves such an honor. Formed and gradually strengthened are the criteria of true Ukrainianness. There are calls to exclude from among Ukrainians all those who do not meet these requirements: for example, they speak the wrong language, read the wrong authors, listen to the wrong music or adhere to the wrong political views.
Ideal Ukraine is seen as a national and cultural monolith that will crush enemy hordes.
But if you need to attract as many people as possible to Ukraine, you will have to bet on inclusiveness. Accept into the ranks of Ukrainians very different and dissimilar individuals who are ready to associate themselves with an independent Ukraine.
Do not make strict demands on them. Show maximum tolerance towards fellow citizens and potential fellow citizens. Come to terms with the fact that your country will not resemble a monolith, but rather a colorful blanket. To recognize that people will not fight for the right to be part of a bloodless Ukraine: this Ukrainian state must compete for them and adapt to them.
Ideological battles in social networks give the impression that there is a huge queue of people willing to link their fate with the Ukrainian project. And a strict but fair national jury has to decide who is worthy of this and who is not.
But in fact, there is no queue and none is expected in the near future.
It is indicative that even now the exclusive approach to Ukrainian identity does not work when solving the main domestic problem – the replenishment of our Armed Forces.
“You cannot mobilize Russian speakers.” “You can’t mobilize fans of Bulgakov or Tolstoy.” “You cannot mobilize those who do not sufficiently honor Stepan Andriyovych Bandera.” “You cannot mobilize those who celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.” “You cannot mobilize those who voted for showman Zelensky in 2019.” “These are fake Ukrainians, they cannot be trusted to protect the country.” “These are the wrong citizens, they are not worthy to wear the uniform of the Armed Forces.” “This is a potential fifth column, they cannot be given weapons.”
How often do we hear similar calls in our public space? Let’s say directly: no. When it comes to mobilization, one hundred percent inclusiveness triumphs.
It turns out that absolutely everyone can defend Ukraine with weapons in their hands, sacrifice themselves for Ukraine and die for Ukraine – regardless of national origin, native language, cultural preferences, religious characteristics or political views.
Almost no one mentions the standards of true Ukrainianness, and it is clear why: there is already an acute shortage of soldiers at the front, and pickiness would be fatal for us.
So, popular national ideologues are actually rejected when it comes to the real vital interests of the Ukrainian state.
Unfortunately, the lack of manpower at the front is only a special case of the same general problem: the lack of people. And in the future, it is unlikely to be solved without sacrificing high ideals.
But Ukraine will not be the first country that will have to choose between dogma and practical necessity.
Mykhailo Dubynyanskyi