[Goose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraines-popu...43521.html
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/russi...18683.html

Both Russia and Ukraine have severe demographic and economic issues. As these articles make clear (IMO) the Ukrainian population decline is much more proximate and will have (and is having) serious effects on the war situation. Ukraine has lost approximately 1/4 of its population, much of it children and "younger people". Many of the younger people are in theory eligible to be drafted, but while they are out of the country it isn't really practical. Losing lots of your workforce is also problematic. Russia has problems, some of which have impacts in the present but most of which will bite it in the future. Ukraine has big problems now.

Unfortunately for Ukraine, attrition is not the best tiebreaker. Losing 25% of the population is a staggering figure. Are figures available for the countries most affected by WW2? How about Korea?

Korea lost about 10% of their population (a total of 3 million people). Ukraine's population "loss" is mostly refugees. They can return if and when they wish. Very few are going to return while the war is still in progress. After the war many will probably stay where they are if they have found jobs and integrated themselves into society. In any case, none of the refugees are helping Ukraine in the short term.

For reference, the Soviet Union lost about 14.8% of the population in WW II. Of course, many people were injured and even more displaced, but they were available to the Soviet government to work in the defense industry and to return to the front after recovery. The 25% Ukraine has lost is not available for use. Of course, many of them are too young anyway so it isn't quite apples and apples. Every year, another draft class becomes eligible but is not available because they are not in Ukraine.

[Goose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraines-popu...43521.html
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/russi...18683.html

Both Russia and Ukraine have severe demographic and economic issues. As these articles make clear (IMO) the Ukrainian population decline is much more proximate and will have (and is having) serious effects on the war situation. Ukraine has lost approximately 1/4 of its population, much of it children and "younger people". Many of the younger people are in theory eligible to be drafted, but while they are out of the country it isn't really practical. Losing lots of your workforce is also problematic. Russia has problems, some of which have impacts in the present but most of which will bite it in the future. Ukraine has big problems now.

Unfortunately for Ukraine, attrition is not the best tiebreaker. Losing 25% of the population is a staggering figure. Are figures available for the countries most affected by WW2? How about Korea?

Korea lost about 10% of their population (a total of 3 million people). Ukraine's population "loss" is mostly refugees. They can return if and when they wish. Very few are going to return while the war is still in progress. After the war many will probably stay where they are if they have found jobs and integrated themselves into society. In any case, none of the refugees are helping Ukraine in the short term.

For reference, the Soviet Union lost about 14.8% of the population in WW II. Of course, many people were injured and even more displaced, but they were available to the Soviet government to work in the defense industry and to return to the front after recovery. The 25% Ukraine has lost is not available for use. Of course, many of them are too young anyway so it isn't quite apples and apples. Every year, another draft class becomes eligible but is not available because they are not in Ukraine.