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Students at a local university watched the Territorial Defense Battalion training in a Kyiv park last week / TASS. KYIV, Ukraine—In a forest...

Students at a local university watched the Territorial Defense Battalion training in a Kyiv park last week / TASS.
KYIV, Ukraine—In a forest one frigid recent morning, this country’s last line of defense was training for the nightmare scenario of a Russian invasion reaching deep into the interior.

An architect dove in the snow to practice taking cover. A 51-year-old mother of three toted an assault rifle as she pivoted to engage an enemy.

Ukraine is fleshing out a territorial-defense force to take on the might of Russia’s military if it breaches front-line defenses. The aim is to have a brigade of reservists in each of the country’s regions, able to react quickly if the enemy blasts or sneaks its way through. “We are the weekend army,” said Yuriy Bredak, a 33-year-old architect and father of two young children.

The units aim to address a core problem Ukraine had when Russia sent an invasion force in 2014: Citizens were willing to fight, but weren’t prepared or organized. One-third of respondents in a survey late last year said they were ready to take up arms if Russia invades.

Eight years ago, thousands of poorly trained volunteers headed to the front to fight equally chaotic separatists and Russian fighters. Their derring-do helped liberate some towns, but when they faced covert Russian army units, they were crushed.

The Ukraine government is seeking to avoid that scenario this time by offering training and a structure for those who don’t want to make a full-time commitment to the army. These reservists are valuable partly because Russia has a strategic advantage: It can attack from the north, south or east, or even stage armed attacks inside the country. Starting from last spring, the citizen-soldiers are activated if martial law is declared.

Territorial battalions were established in 2014, then were rolled into the army. They have now been re-established with a clear structure. Officials say they are adding large numbers of new recruits, aiming for a total reserve force of some 130,000. “They will defend cities, villages, critical infrastructure, bridges, tunnels, roads, et cetera,” Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

Joining requires a conversation with the local unit commander, medical checks, proof of no criminal record and signing a contract. Then training begins, including practical and theoretical classes.

Some participants of the recent training session were a little skeptical that the authorities have managed to rally as many volunteer fighters as the government projects.

Some of the 420,000 veterans of the eight-year war in Ukraine’s east said they were waiting for more clarity about whether a conflict will break out before they commit, and prefer to band together with former comrades-in-arms over joining new groups.

Most have jobs and families that they are hoping not to abandon for the front line unless absolutely necessary.

The U.S. said about 100,000 Russian troops have been deployed near the Ukrainian border. Satellite images show the growing presence of military equipment at several locations. Photo: Maxar Technologies The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition

Ukraine has been under threat so often, for so long, that many people have grown complacent about the need for urgent preparedness, particularly in recent years when the pandemic added to their daily struggles.

“Our military preparation is a problem—a lot of Ukrainians don’t want to fight,” said Yuri Boyko, who at age 68 is considered too old to fight, but attends the training as an adviser. “Life is busy and Ukrainians lost a lot of energy due to the long war, now Covid, [and] other issues.”

“Much more needs to be done to be ready in case Russia attacks,” he added.

Participants are a mix of veterans and ordinary folk energized by the desire to resist. Marta Yuzkiv, 51 years old, said she is fired up by memories of Soviet rule of Ukraine, part of a long history of Moscow’s domination of her country.

“I know what will happen if Russia comes here,” she said, expressing particular concern that Russian forces will be holding military exercises at the start of February in Belarus, which has a border with Ukraine 75 miles from Kyiv.

“They have been trying to destroy Ukraine for a long time,” she said. “They destroyed our churches, they stole our history…. It is something I don’t want to repeat.”

Ukraine is training younger reservists as well. About 180 male and female students from a local university stood at attention, side-by-side in snow some 3 inches thick, watching Ms. Yuzkiv and her fellow fighters conduct training exercises. Some grew fidgety as training dragged on in the cold, but they acknowledged that they recognize the threat to their country is real and they could be called to battle.

Military customs are difficult for civilians to get used to, especially the need to give and follow precise orders, said Denis Semyrog-Orlyk, a 46-year-old architect and reservist.

He said he was alarmed by the news of the Russian military buildup, mostly because he recalled the destruction wrought by Russian forces in Syria.

Mr. Semyrog-Orlyk also worried about how his family would cope if he has to go fight. He had kept a reserve of savings in case of war, but with the long conflict and economic troubles, he has already spent it. “It is like that for most people,” he said.

Still, he said, Ukraine had become a different country in recent years, and people would be motivated by defending their homes against an invader.

“In war the main thing is will to win,” said Mr. Semyrog-Orlyk. “The Russians don’t have the same motivation as we do.”