Ukraine's Parliament Not Considering Lowering Fighting Age
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Loading... - Sauvo Hiltunen
- 11 Dec 2024
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In a recent statement, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has confirmed that it is not reviewing any legislative initiatives to lower the minimum age for military service. This announcement comes amidst ongoing discussions about the country's military mobilization efforts in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, clarified that there are currently no proposals to change the mobilization age from 25 to either 18 or 20. He emphasized that no bills or initiatives regarding this matter have been submitted for discussion within the relevant committee.
Venislavskyi also addressed circulating rumors about potential changes to the military service requirements for women. He reiterated that there are no proposals under consideration for the forced mobilization of women who may become eligible for military service after voluntarily completing basic military training. According to current legislation, women can only be mobilized during wartime with their voluntary consent.
The MP dismissed other claims regarding the forced mobilization of individuals aged 18-24 after completing basic military service as "manipulations and speculation," including assertions from some of his parliamentary colleagues.
This clarification follows reports from Reuters and AP on November 27, which cited senior U.S. officials suggesting that the Biden administration had urged Ukraine to revise its mobilization laws to allow for the drafting of individuals as young as 18. In response to these reports, Dmytro Lytvyn, Ukraine’s Presidential Communications Advisor, stated that lowering the mobilization age would be ineffective, particularly given the delays in the delivery of promised military equipment from international partners.
As Ukraine continues to navigate the complexities of its defense strategy, the decision to maintain the current mobilization age reflects a cautious approach to military recruitment and readiness in the face of ongoing conflict.
