Ukraine: Government Introduces Bill to Mobilize 500K New Troops
Following remarks from Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the month, in which he stated that the military will need to mobilize an additional 450–500K troops next year, Ukraine's government has this week submitted a draft law to achieve the aim....
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Facts
- Following remarks from Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the month, in which he stated that the military will need to mobilize an additional 450–500K troops next year, Ukraine's government has this week submitted a draft law to achieve the aim.1
- The proposed law — bill 10378 — makes widespread changes to mobilization eligibility, including lowering the conscription age from 27 to 25. It also includes measures to send electronic summonses and to strenghten restrictions on those who try to avoid service. The government's website crashed, becoming temporarily unavailable, as a result of so many Ukrainians attempting to access the proposals.1
- While some of the proposals are broadly supported, such as the removal of exemptions for students pursuing second degrees, others have been more controversial, such as plans to scrap exemptions for those possessing what the Ukrainian government defines as 'group 3' disabilities. Under the new plans, parents of those with 'group 3' disabilities will also no longer be exempt from service.2
- Underlining the sensitivity of the discussions, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, on Tuesday held his first press conference in nearly two years of war. He sought to explain why such changes to the mobilization law were necessary.3
- However, in a rare acknowledgement of military losses, Zaluzhnyi pushed back against Zelenskyy's request for troops that have already been fighting for two years to be demobilized as soon as possible. Under current Ukrainan laws, troops are meant to be rotated out after six months of fighting. Zaluzhnyi said he would need 'at least two times more troops' in order to comply with the law.4
- Meanwhile, after earlier denials from Ukrainian officials, Zaluzhnyi also conceded that Russia has taken control of the town of Marinka in Donetsk. 'This is a war,' he said. 'So the fact that we have now retreated to the outskirts of Marinka and set up positions behind Marinka in some areas is nothing that can cause any public outcry. Sadly, this is what war is like.'5
Sources: 1Ukrainska Pravda (a), 2Ukranews, 3Kyivpost, 4Washington Post and 5Ukrainska Pravda (b).
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Ukrainska Pravda. These are sensitive proposals which effect the lives of nearly every Ukrainian. It is only right that they are openly discussed in public so that everyone can understand the motivations behind the decision making. These are necessary changes to put Ukraine in a stronger position to win the war in the coming year.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by American Conservative. The West's collective failure in seeking to expand NATO eastwards to Russia's borders started this war, which has resulted in Ukraine losing vast swaths of territory, as well as untold numbers of men and women. Rather than continue prolonging this devastation, Ukraine needs to push for peace.
