(Reuters) – The Ukrainian government has presented a revised version of its bill to tighten army mobilisation rules to parliament on Tuesday. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure the country has an adequate fighting force to continue its campaign against Russia’s invasion.
Earlier this month, the draft of the highly sensitive reforms sparked public outcry and was sent back for revision. Lawmakers and analysts expressed concerns that some provisions violated the constitution and posed corruption risks.
With the war nearing the two-year mark and a decline in Ukrainian men volunteering to join the fight, the reforms are considered crucial in replenishing the battlefield manpower. One key provision in the revised legislation is the lowering of the minimum draft age from 27 to 25.
The new bill retains several key provisions from the initial draft, including the introduction of electronic call-ups and harsh penalties for individuals who disobey mobilization rules. It also maintains provisions from the previous version related to citizens applying for passports having to present their military registration documents.
The updated draft also includes the provision of serving mobilization notices electronically into a conscript’s “personal profile,” which citizens are required to register. Additionally, any attempt to avoid the draft will result in potential measures by the courts, including freezing of bank accounts and assets, travel restrictions, and limits on the use of a vehicle, upon request from military recruitment offices.
The new bill includes limitations on mobilization terms, capping them at 36 months, and provides exemptions for potential conscripts in higher education or specialized fields. Moreover, certain individuals convicted of crimes will now be allowed to serve in the military under a new provision.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has imposed martial law, restricting military-age men from leaving the country without special dispensation.
Last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that the military had proposed mobilising 450,000-500,000 more people into the army, representing a significant undertaking. Army Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi stated that the figure takes into account military plans and projections of potential losses, covering the entire year according to military analysts.
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Tom Balmforth, Ron Popeski and Stephen Coates)
