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Ukrainian army facing acute shortage of vehicles for evacuating wounded — news outlet

Due to the long delays in evacuation, the wounded develop many complications, the publications says

MOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. A severe shortage of armored vehicles for evacuating the wounded is being observed within the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Ukrainskaya Pravda online publication reported, citing sources.

According to the media outlet, a difficult situation has arisen in 2026 with the provision of transport vehicles for medical evacuation teams. According to military personnel interviewed by the publication, the Ukrainian armed forces have a significant shortage (80%) of armored vehicles for evacuating the wounded. "Due to the long delays in evacuation, the wounded develop many complications," the publication quotes a commander of the Ukrainian armed forces’ 1st Separate Medical Battalion as saying.

Ukrainskaya Pravda notes that, in order to evacuate the wounded, units must be provided with enough armored vehicles so that the military does not have to hold them back "for a rainy day."

In June, Alexander Syrsky, then commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, complained about a shortage of medical personnel in units operating on the front line. The Ukrainian Health Ministry also reported that medical workers’ draft exemptions have been annulled and they are being called up for military service at the request of the Defense Ministry.

Ukraine's general mobilization, paired with martial law, has been active since February 24, 2022. Initially, men aged 27 to 60 were subject to conscription, but amid a shortage of Ukrainian army personnel, authorities repeatedly took measures to tighten mobilization regulations. In April 2024, the military mobilization age was lowered to 25, and in May 2024, a number of other provisions were revised to expand the mobilization resources. The authorities are doing everything possible to prevent men of draft age from evading service, however, the Ukrainian army is still experiencing a chronic personnel shortage.

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