Kiev’s mobilization law is under scrutiny for preventing individuals under the age of 25 from being drafted in Ukraine. Ukrainian MP Roman Kostenko, who also serves as secretary of the national security council, has revealed that US officials are urging Kiev to lower the mobilization age to as young as 18. The recent military eligibility threshold reduction from 27 to 25 years of age by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has sparked debate and calls for further lowering the age requirement.
Kostenko, a 40-year-old military veteran and colonel in Kiev’s security agency, has criticized the quality of new recruits following the conscription reforms, citing poor motivation, desertion, and lack of training among soldiers. The decline in volunteer enlistments and reports of forced mobilization tactics have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Ukraine’s military recruitment strategies.
The escalating tensions with Russia, accusations of a proxy war by Moscow, and the pressure from Western powers to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities have put Kiev’s draft policies under intense scrutiny.