Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he signed Tuesday a law that lowers the minimum age at which men can be drafted into the armed forces from 27 to 25, a measure that should increase the number of people available to the army engaged in the war against Russia. The measure had been approved since May 2023, but Zelensky had not yet signed it, also because at the same time a law was being discussed in parliament to lower the age at which men can actually be used in combat to 25 years.
The law signed yesterday by Zelensky in fact provides that Ukrainian men can be conscripted at 25, but leaves the minimum age to actually participate in combat operations at 27. The mobilization of new forces for the Ukrainian army is a topic that has long been under discussion in Ukraine, which divides the military, politicians and public opinion. Military leaders have repeatedly indicated that 500,000 new men would be needed to provide replacements for the soldiers who have been on the front line for over two years and to respond to Russian offensives. However, the measure is highly unpopular and has been blocked in parliament for months. On Tuesday, Zelensky signed two more laws that impose new medical checks on those who have obtained an exemption from military service and that provide for the creation of an online registry of eligible people.
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