After ‘two years of hell’, Ukraine debates mobilising half a million more men

Russia seems ready to increase its attacking army after Vladimir Putin is re-elected, leaving Kyiv little choice but to do the same

In a fight taking place far from the front lines, Ukrainian lawmakers are debating a bill that could make or break their country’s fortunes in this war.

The bill would raise up to half a million fresh troops, increasing Ukraine’s standing army by half. The increase is ten times as many new troops as the 12 brigades Ukraine raised for its 2023 counteroffe…