Poland and Lithuania could help return Ukrainians of military age back to Ukraine, the countries' defence ministers said, as Kyiv ramps up efforts to replenish its depleted and exhausted military.

Poland has tens of thousands of Ukrainian men of military age on its territory, according to UN figures.

Ukraine is scrambling to recruit troops after more than two years of war and has recently passed a mobilisation law, lowering the fighting age and toughening penalties against draft dodgers.

Late Wednesday it said it would stop issuing new passports abroad to some military-aged men under the new legislation.

It has also suspended consular services for men aged 18 to 60 living abroad, sparking fury among expatriates in Poland and elsewhere.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said late Wednesday that Warsaw could help in getting military-aged men back to Ukraine.

"We have suggested for a long time that we can help the Ukrainian side ensure that people subject to compulsive military service go to Ukraine," he told Polsat television.

"Everything is possible," he said when asked if Warsaw would agree if Ukraine asked for people subject to the draft be transported to Ukraine.

On Thursday, his Lithuanian counterpart Laurynas Kasciunas said the authorities in Vilnius could follow Poland's moves.

"I think this is the right way," Kasciunas told reporters, referring to the Polish minister's remarks.

"Ukraine is very short of mobilisation reserve… This is not fair to those citizens who are fighting for their country," Kasciunas said.

"We don't have that many such people in Lithuania. But we do have a small number," he said, without providing specific numbers.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fled the war, with most passing through Poland.

As of February this year, 952,104 Ukrainian refugees were registered in Poland, of whom 16 percent, or 152,656 people, were of military age, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

But many Ukrainians were also in Poland before the outbreak of the war.

Lithuania, according to its migration office, hosts over 74,000 Ukrainian citizens, with more than half of them moving to the country after Russia's invasion in February 2022.

In east Ukraine, exhausted troops eagerly await new US weapons
Ukraine, Ukraine (AFP) April 25, 2024 –

Exhausted Ukrainian soldiers near the front line were eagerly awaiting the arrival of desperately needed US weapons Thursday, with some bitter at how much the long wait has cost them.

After being held-up by political wrangling for six months, US President Joe Biden on Wednesday gave final approval to a $61 billion package of aid to Kyiv, saying weapons shipments will begin "right away".

Dependent on Western support to counter Russia's invasion and tired by more than two years of war, Ukraine has struggled to hold back Moscow's forces.

"It's good," Oleskiy, a bearded 38-year-old serviceman said of the green light from Washington.

"But a little earlier would have been better," he added wryly.

As the flow of weapons slowed, Russian forces gained some ground and momentum on the battlefield: capturing the eastern hub of Avdiivka and some villages around it.

They have also made advances near the strategically important town of Chasiv Yar and have launched a relentless wave of aerial strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Oleksiy, who declined to give his last name, said Kyiv would "not have had such losses of men and territory" had the aid come sooner.

Soldiers hoped the fresh weapons could at least slightly turn the tide for Kyiv, outgunned and outmanned by a far larger force.

– 'Retreating' –

Russian forces were "pushing back our positions, destroying them," Oleksiy said.

"We are retreating," he added.

He said Ukrainian troops were especially dependent on artillery — without which "the infantry can't do anything" — as well as armoured vehicles that allow them to retrieve wounded and dead soldiers.

"We can get our men (with the vehicles)," Oleksiy said.

In the trenches nearby, a military chaplain was blessing both soldiers and tunnels that were being dug out.

Maksym, a 24-year-old soldier in the same area, had some hope that fresh US weapons could change the course of the war.

"I don't want to get ahead of myself but it's already something," he said.

– 'Nothing to launch an assault with' –

Asked what the troops needed most of all, he said: "Ammunition and artillery. Artillery keeps the infantry safe."

Yuri, a 30-year-old soldier, hoped for the delivery of "large calibre" weapons that he colloquially called "sweets".

At the moment, his men lack the weapons to push forward and can only hold their positions.

"We are on the defensive. There is nothing to launch an assault with," he said.

He said new weapons would allow the troops to counter-attack.

Oleksiy said that his unit had enough Ukrainian ammunition but hoped for "armoured vehicles, artillery and long-range shells."

"This is where the Russians have the advantage."