Can this really be true? At The Telegraph former UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace is quoted as claiming that the average age of Ukrainians at the front is over 40:
Putin is desperately grasping at the final two things that can save him – time and the splitting of the international community. Britain can do something about both. We must help Ukraine maintain its momentum – and that will require more munitions, ATACMSs and Storm Shadows. And the best way to keep the international community together is the demonstration of success.
Ukraine can also play its part. The average age of the soldiers at the front is over 40. I understand President Zelensky’s desire to preserve the young for the future, but the fact is that Russia is mobilising the whole country by stealth. Putin knows a pause will hand him time to build a new army. So just as Britain did in 1939 and 1941, perhaps it is time to reassess the scale of Ukraine’s mobilisation.
I have no idea how he would know that, whether that’s accurate, or what it implies. I also have no idea how fit a 40 year old Ukrainian is.
For comparison the average age of U. S. soldiers in Europe in 1945 is estimated at 26.
I suspect Ben Wallace isn’t a stickler for the differences between averages, medians, and modes.
But taking him at his word, to get an average of 40+, a significant proportion (30-40%) of the Ukrainian army is likely 50+.
Also, has Mr Wallace (or any decision makers in NATO) looked at Ukraine’s demographic pyramid. It should be shown — it has an enormous bulge in the middle (40-60 yrs) with a very small base (< 30 yrs). That's because Ukraine birth rate collapsed 30 years ago with the collapse of the USSR, and further declines from emigration, youth are the ones with the most incentives to try their luck in Europe, US.
It could simply be too few for Ukraine to mobilize in that age group.
I’ve been hearing rumors of this for some time. I thought a lot of it was because Ukraine mobilized anyone with previous military experience and brought a lot of more senior people out of retirement. Russia has done the same thing. It’s mobilization targeted individuals with previous military experience, which is going to be an older cohort.
But I do think Ukraine likely has significant manpower limitations that are not much talked about in the West. There has been an observable decline in force quality due to casualties and losses among more experienced personnel, and the shortened training timelines for replacements. But that isn’t unexpected or unusual.
So overall, it’s hard to say except in broad strokes.