Military Force Enhancement and Conscription Dilemmas in Eastern European Countries Amid the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Eastern European countries have significantly increased their emphasis on military force building. Poland signed a $10 billion agreement on August 13 to purchase 96 Apache attack helicopters from Boeing in the United States to enhance its military capabilities. In addition, various Eastern European countries actively purchase new weapons, expand their military equipment and troop size, and actively participate in NATO exercises to strive to improve their combat readiness level.

However, during the process of strengthening their military forces, many Eastern European countries have encountered conscription difficulties. For example, the Czech Republic has struggled to meet recruitment targets for many years. In 2021, the army only completed 56% of the recruitment tasks, and although it increased to 85% in 2022, it still fell short of expectations. The Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, General Karel Řehka, pointed out that if the problem of military manpower shortage is not solved, it will be impossible to maintain peace and deter potential enemies, and if there are not enough personnel to operate modern equipment, the capital investment will be wasted.

Countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia bordering Ukraine are also facing the same predicament. The unemployment rate is low in Eastern European countries, and the private sector offers generous salaries, making it difficult to attract young people to enlist. Major General Karol Dymanowski, the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, said that the fierce competition in the local labor market has affected the conscription work.

To solve the conscription problem, governments of Eastern European countries have taken various measures. The Czech military organized summer camps to allow high school students to experience military life, and the Czech Ministry of Defense's decree that took effect on September 1 lowered the medical requirements for soldiers. Poland launched the "Vacation with the Army" campaign, providing 28 days of military training for citizens aged 18 to 35. Hungary uses billboards, advertisements, and upcoming military-themed TV dramas to attract young people.

But on the other hand, there is a trend of "avoiding conscription" on social platforms mainly TikTok. Some videos show Ukrainian men sharing how to go abroad to avoid conscription. Ukrainian officials believe that this is Russia's obstruction of its conscription behind it, but Russia has not responded yet.

There are various reasons for the difficulty in conscription in Eastern European countries. Economically, the unemployment rate is low in Eastern European countries, the treatment in the private sector is good, and the treatment in the military lacks competitiveness. Socially and culturally, people are worried about the risk of war, personal values and lifestyles have changed, and families do not encourage their children to join the military. In terms of population, aging and population outflow have led to a reduction in the population. The military itself also has problems with its image and reputation, as well as limited career development.

Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, although Eastern European countries have a firm determination to strengthen their military forces, how to solve the conscription problem and ensure adequate military personnel is a key issue that needs to be overcome urgently, and the result will have a significant impact on the regional security situation.