In a bid to bolster its beleaguered armed forces amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially signed a law reducing the country's conscription age from 27 to 25.
This legislative change, known as Law 9281, was one of three measures enacted by Zelensky on Tuesday, a full year after its approval by the Ukrainian parliament.
Addressing the media, President Zelensky refrained from specifying the number of new conscripts required by the country. He revealed that an audit, commissioned by Ukraine's new commander Olaksandr Syrsku, had debunked a previous estimate that suggested a need for an additional 500,000 men.
As of the previous autumn, the Ukrainian armed forces comprised approximately 1 million uniformed personnel, including 800,000 military troops and the National Guard, along with other related units.
Law 9281 is distinct from a more comprehensive draft bill, Law 10449, currently under parliamentary review. Besides lowering the draft age, Law 10449 also delineates who is eligible for exemptions, among other issues. The bill, expected to face significant opposition, has already seen over 1,000 amendments proposed by lawmakers.
The other two laws enacted by Zelensky on Tuesday include the establishment of an online registration system for recruits. Oksana Zabolotna, an analyst with the Kyiv-based Center for United Actions, commented, "These laws introduce changes only to some aspects of the mobilization process. But still there are many other issues that have to be resolved."
Zabolotna added that the reduction of the draft age by two years might only achieve 10% of the original target of 500,000 new recruits. "There are about half a million men aged 25-27. Some of them are unfit for service, some have left, some are (in the) reserve or have the right to deferment," she explained.
The average age of Ukrainian soldiers currently stands at around 40, mirroring that of their Russian counterparts, as per military analysts. Meanwhile, Russia claimed a recent surge in enlistments, partly attributed to the response to last month's fatal terror attack in Moscow. The Kremlin has persistently implicated Ukraine and the West in the incident that claimed 140 lives at the Crocus City Hall concert venue on March 22-23, despite the Islamic State affiliate's claim of responsibility.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated that approximately 16,000 recruits have enlisted over the past ten days, although these figures could not be independently verified.
As the conflict enters its third year, the initial fervor among Ukrainians to combat the Russian incursion has understandably diminished. While public support for the war remains strong, concerns are growing that drafting more young adults could further debilitate the economy.
Currently, Ukraine prohibits men under 60 years old from leaving the country, though some are evading the draft through concealment or bribery. Commanders have expressed concerns over insufficient manpower and the struggle to maintain their positions as Russia's assault continues.
Reportedly, the dispute over mobilizing more men was a contributing factor to Zelensky's dismissal of the popular commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi in February. In the same month, Zaluzhnyi criticized "the inability of state institutions in Ukraine to improve the manpower levels of our armed forces" in a contentious CNN op-ed.
On Wednesday, President Zelensky provided a grim update on the ongoing conflict. "In March alone, Russian terrorists used over 400 missiles of various types, 600 'Shahed' drones, and over 3,000 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine," he wrote, accompanying his statement with footage of explosions and residents fleeing to safety. "This terror is wreaking havoc on cities and villages throughout Ukraine, and Russia is particularly relentless in bombarding frontline and border areas," he added.
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