Ukraine is reportedly considering a proposal to lower the age for combat duty mobilization from 27 to 25, according to a draft law published on the parliament’s website. The proposed legislation outlines criteria for the military registration of conscripts and specifies that the new law would apply to Ukrainian citizens “who have reached the age of 25.”
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, in an explanatory note accompanying the draft law, highlighted the “change of conscription age from 27 to 25 years.” The move comes as Ukraine continues to grapple with the ongoing conflict with Russia, which has extended over 22 months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed during an end-of-year news conference on December 19 that the military had proposed mobilizing an additional 450,000-500,000 Ukrainians. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue and emphasized that discussions between the military and the government would precede any decision to submit the proposal to parliament.
As of now, President Zelensky has not publicly endorsed the proposal and expressed the need to hear more arguments in favor of mobilizing additional personnel, considering the significant number involved. The exact troop numbers in Ukraine remain undisclosed, but the country is estimated to have approximately a million people under arms.
According to David Arakhamia, the head of Zelensky’s party in parliament, the bill was scheduled to be introduced on December 25. Arakhamia emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the military’s challenges, stating on Telegram, “The military needs a solution to its problems.” The proposal reflects Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to bolster its defense capabilities in the face of the protracted conflict with Russia.
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