Discussions in the Verkhovna Rada regarding the reduction of the mobilization age to 18-20 years.

Discussions in the Verkhovna Rada on reducing the mobilization age to 18-20 years

Discussions are ongoing in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the possible reduction of the mobilization age of young people to 18-20 years. This was stated by MP Roman Kostenko, who is the secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence. He noted that although the relevant committee has not yet officially considered this issue, discussions are already underway among deputies.

The MP mentioned that in many countries around the world, conscription starts at 18 years old, and in Ukraine, the lack of defenders under 25 years old is the biggest mystery. Kostenko expressed his position that the country should call up and mobilize young people from the age of 20 to fight for Ukraine.

"We don't have enough people, we don't have enough of these young people... My position is that we should call up, mobilize, and fight together for our country not from 18, but from 20 years old," Kostenko emphasized.

The deputy also drew attention to the paradox in Ukrainian legislation, where from the age of 21, citizens are allowed to run for a deputy position and make complex management decisions, but one can only go to war from the age of 25. Kostenko proposed to review existing norms and make them more consistent.

It is worth noting that a different position on lowering the mobilization age to 50 years was previously expressed in the Verkhovna Rada.