“We have a demographic pit”: Verkhovna Rada assures it will not lower the mobilization age.

There is no discussion in the Verkhovna Rada about lowering the mobilization age, although questions are coming from partners. This was stated by the first deputy speaker of the parliament, Oleksandr Kornienko, on Radio NV.

He noted that the Verkhovna Rada recently prohibited the mobilization of those younger than 25 years. They could have been mobilized due to legislative discrepancies.

Kornienko says that considering this, a discussion about lowering the mobilization age below 25 years is 'hard to imagine'. At the same Time, this discussion exists among partners, who ask why such individuals are not mobilized in Ukraine.

According to the deputy speaker, he explained that Ukraine does not have the same demographic situation as other countries that 'at some point, somewhere,' during other wars, mobilized young people.

'We explain that we have a demographic pit. Therefore, this is the golden generation we need to rebuild the country with, the one we need to work with,' he said.

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence supported a bill that introduces restrictions on the mobilization of all untrained men aged 18 to 25. The legislative initiative approved by the committee prohibits mobilization not only of limited fit men aged 18 to 25 but also those who have not undergone conscription or military training during their studies in higher educational institutions (military departments).

Additionally, the bill grants the right to release those limited fit men who have already been mobilized.

Signed law on lowering the draft age

On April 2, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed the law 'On amendments to the Law of Ukraine 'On Military Duty and Military Service'. Thus, the draft age is reduced to 25 years.

Notably, the Ministry of Defense did not support bill No. 11379 and did not grant a deferral from mobilization for men under 25 who were once recognized as limited fit. Meanwhile, cases where the TCC, during the new mobilization rules, enlist young people under 25 who have never served and never studied at a military department are not isolated and are already causing a resonance that cannot be ignored.

As reported, the diagnosis 'limited fit', used in peacetime, has been canceled, and now there are only categories 'fit' and 'unfit' for military service during martial law.