Ukraine Lowers Army Draft Age to 25 Amid War with Russia: President Zelenskiy Signs Bill
Ukraine lowered the army draft age from 27 to 25 to increase the number of civilians who can be mobilized for combat duty under martial law.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed the bill on Tuesday, which had been approved by lawmakers in May 2023.
The reason for the delay in signing the bill is unclear.
Parliament has also been discussing a separate bill to tighten draft rules.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has signed a law allowing for the mobilization of more civilians into the army to fight under martial law.
The law expands the number of civilians who can be conscripted as the Ukrainian military faces a shortage of ammunition and is under pressure from Russia's invasion.
The signing of the bill was not officially announced by the president's office but was confirmed on the parliament website.
Zelensky had previously stated that he would only sign the bill if he was convinced of its necessity.
The Ukrainian military is currently facing funding shortages from the US and delays in ammunition deliveries from the EU.
In December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the military had proposed mobilizing up to 500,000 more soldiers.
However, the new commander of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently stated that this figure has been "significantly reduced" after a review of resources.
Additionally, Zelensky signed two bills that could help the military draft more fighters.
The first bill requires men with disability waivers to undergo another medical assessment, and the second bill aims to create an online database of those eligible for military service.
An earlier draft of Ukraine's anti-corruption bill contained strict measures that were later destroyed due to public backlash.
President Zelenskiy has warned of possible Russian offensive attacks later this spring or summer.
Ukrainian troops are building up defensive fortifications along the front line.
The initial shock of the invasion has worn off, resulting in a decrease in volunteer fighters and reported cases of draft evasion.
The reason for the delay in signing the bill is unclear.
Parliament has also been discussing a separate bill to tighten draft rules.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has signed a law allowing for the mobilization of more civilians into the army to fight under martial law.
The law expands the number of civilians who can be conscripted as the Ukrainian military faces a shortage of ammunition and is under pressure from Russia's invasion.
The signing of the bill was not officially announced by the president's office but was confirmed on the parliament website.
Zelensky had previously stated that he would only sign the bill if he was convinced of its necessity.
The Ukrainian military is currently facing funding shortages from the US and delays in ammunition deliveries from the EU.
In December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the military had proposed mobilizing up to 500,000 more soldiers.
However, the new commander of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently stated that this figure has been "significantly reduced" after a review of resources.
Additionally, Zelensky signed two bills that could help the military draft more fighters.
The first bill requires men with disability waivers to undergo another medical assessment, and the second bill aims to create an online database of those eligible for military service.
An earlier draft of Ukraine's anti-corruption bill contained strict measures that were later destroyed due to public backlash.
President Zelenskiy has warned of possible Russian offensive attacks later this spring or summer.
Ukrainian troops are building up defensive fortifications along the front line.
The initial shock of the invasion has worn off, resulting in a decrease in volunteer fighters and reported cases of draft evasion.
