Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law enabling the recruitment of individuals over the age of sixty into the military.
These volunteers can serve in non-combat roles after passing a medical screening and receiving approval from the authorities. They must complete a two-month trial period, according to the published text of the law on the Ukrainian parliament’s website. Notably, the new law does not specify an upper age limit.
Ukraine has been experiencing severe shortages of soldiers for months, as Russia intensifies its assaults in the east and targets new fronts, such as the Sumy region.
In response, authorities have introduced measures to attract recruits, such as lowering the minimum conscription age from 27 to 25 years as of April 2024 and offering financial incentives to those aged 18 to 24. However, these initiatives have fallen short of expectations.
The current military mobilisation system is widely regarded as unfair, corrupt, and inefficient.
Due to martial law in Ukraine, adult men are generally not permitted to leave the country, except under specific conditions. Some decide to hide to avoid conscription or pay large sums to escape, risking their lives in the process.
Both Ukraine and Russia have suffered significant casualties since the conflict began in February 2022. Official figures are unavailable as both nations are reticent in their reporting.
