On Thursday, Interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov stated the military's conscription would be ratified: May Day parades were conducted in Kiev in which pro-Union Ukrainians expressed their desire for a unified Ukraine and their distress caused by Russia; as well as Moscow where Russian patriots praised President Vladimir Putin for his actions in Ukraine.  And pro-Russian activist attacked policemen in Donetsk's prosecutor's office.

Mr. Turchynov's call for a change in Ukraine's military conscription comes after his statement on Wednesday that the eastern part of the country has been lost to the pro-Russian separatist.

He also stated that Ukraine's military was on full alert for a possible invasion by Russia.

Mr. Putin has stated though that Russia has no intention of invading Ukraine.

But even if Russia was to invade, Ukraine's military isn't strong enough to win.  According to analysts, Ukraine has 350,000 active personnel in its military which could be raised to one million with reservists.
Russia on the other hand, has 766,055 active personnel and 2,035,000 reserve.

Comparison of Ukraine and Russia's military.  Photo: CNN

However, numbers don't play as large of a role in modern-warfare as they did just a few hundred years ago.  Today, technology, equipment, and the skill of the soldiers plays a much greater role in the outcome of battle.

With that said, Russia still has the upper hand.  With more advanced weapons, relatively better trained soldiers, and (despite what I said) larger numbers, Ukraine's military would only be able to put up at best a mediocre fight.

That's assuming though that Ukraine's citizens wouldn't form civilian militias and fight back the Russians alongside Ukrainian soldiers.  But with the current situation in eastern Ukraine, specifically all the pro-Russian activist, Ukrainians would find themselves fighting each other: Pro-Ukrainians and soldiers fighting pro-Russian activist and soldiers.

Now you may be asking, why did I contradict myself by saying that Russia's large forces would play a factor in Russia beating Ukraine?  Because, Russia has larger numbers of better weapons and technology than Ukraine does.

For example, who would be more likely to kill Fred: John who is throwing ten eighty-pound rocks at Fred?  Or Steve who is throwing one ten-pound rock at Fred?

John is the obvious answer.

So when you have 5-10 times more rocks that are more powerful than Steven's, you're more likely to win.  That is, as long as you know how to use your rock effectively.  Which you do.  Because in this example you're Russia.

This example applies to the real Russia and Ukraine.  Not only does Russia have more powerful weapons, it has more well trained soldiers who know how to effectively use their equipment.

Therefor, in the event if Russia did invade, it seems they would be more likely to win than Ukraine.

But there is a twist.  According to Secretary of State John Kerry, Russia already has invaded Ukraine.

Last Thursday, Mr. Kerry stated U.S. intelligence had proof that Russian spies and special forces are in eastern Ukraine who analysts say are meant to disrupt day to day life so that the pro-Russian separatists' plan on May 11 to vote for autonomy from Kiev will trump Ukraine's presidential election on May 25.

Russia continues to deny involvement in Ukraine, however, and says that the U.S. and West is responsible for the crisis.

Ultimately, the fate of Ukraine rest in the hands of its people.  Looking at eastern Ukraine, it seems that the people there want to join Russia.  But according to Olga Aivazovska, a co-founder of Opora, an independent election monitoring and polling group, only 20 percent of Ukraine citizens want to join Russia.

The pro-Russian referendum in Donetsk on May 11 will shed some light on what at least part of the Ukraine people want.

In the Mayday parade conducted in Kiev on Thursday, a middle-aged man said: "I think interference from the outside [Russia] is unacceptable.  Let the Russians deal with Tajikistan and the 'separatist', as they call themselves, and not interfere with our country.  We will deal on our own.  Our country is brilliant and we must be united."