Mobilization in Ukraine in 2024: Are changes in the booking rules expected?.

According to ТСН: Russia is soon starting a year-round conscription, which, according to some Ukrainian military experts, could pose a new challenge for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and affect mobilization processes in Ukraine. Ukrainians have started to ask more frequently whether it is possible to strengthen mobilization by reducing the categories of people who have reservations or deferrals.

Representatives of the defense committee of the Verkhovna Rada and military analysts have spoken about potential changes in mobilization. Military expert Oleksiy Hetman noted that it is necessary to regularly check the appropriateness of reserving certain categories of men.

Verification of Reservations

“We have enough people who evade service, not to mention the mobilization. It is unacceptable that part of the people supports this. However, there are also professions that are very important in the rear. Therefore, reservations must be checked constantly,” Hetman expressed his opinion.

He also added that the situation with mobilization in Ukraine has improved. “I am not authorized to give numbers, but the plan is fulfilled. It is even exceeded by a few percent. There is no critical situation, but, of course, we need more people,” he said.

Hetman emphasized that the year-round conscription in Russia indicates the occupiers' intentions to involve youth to replace contract soldiers serving on the front lines.

“And the contract soldiers will go to the front line. This is the first. Secondly: it is much easier to convince a conscript to sign a contract than a person from the street,” the expert notes.

Categories of Deferral

Military expert Vladyslav Selezniov commented on the possibility of reducing the list of categories that have deferrals or reservations:

“Whether or not to reduce the list is a matter of existing legislation that defines these categories. I advocate the opinion that the issue of conscription for military service during mobilization should be considered in such a way: achieve maximum results with minimal efforts.”

According to him, simply increasing the personnel will not solve the problems at the front. “Even if we mobilize as many people as the Russians, the question arises: do we have a sufficient amount of weapons and equipment in the respective combat units?” the expert adds.

Selezniov believes that Russia is also looking for new sources of replenishment:

“Russia is looking for other sources as well. We are talking about mercenaries from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.”

Situation in Parliament

Representatives of the Defense Committee of the Verkhovna Rada deny the possibility of reviewing the categories of men who can receive deferrals.

“Currently, there are no initiatives aimed at resolving these issues in the parliament. Neither from the members of parliament, nor from the government, nor from the president,” Fedir Venislavskyi noted.

Venislavskyi also emphasized that the year-round conscription in Russia will not affect the war in Ukraine:

“I believe that this will not affect the situation in any way. Russia very rarely uses conscripts in combat.”

Recent events show that Ukraine needs to be ready for changes at the front and respond to new challenges that the state faces in the context of war. Mobilization strategies and resource utilization remain at the forefront of leadership attention, as the situation at the front can change at any moment.