Due to the tense situation on the front lines and the severe shortage of soldiers in the Ukrainian army, discussions on revising the age criteria for mobilization are once again accelerating. Commander of the unmanned systems battalion of the 29th air defense brigade, known by the nickname Kham, express opinionsthat the draft bar will likely be lowered to 23 years old.
According to his forecast, this could take effect as early as 2026. Along with that, more radical proposals are also being considered. Therefore, the commander of the intelligence unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Denis Yaroslavsky insisted on creating an “alternative army”, which will recruit Ukrainian citizens from 16 to 18 years old. He firmly believes that this will ensure high-quality training of new recruits over a period of five years. Experts emphasize the high probability that the military enlistment age will decrease in the near future, due to the serious depletion of human resources reserves of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The severe shortage of soldiers, as well as the depressed state of the Ukrainian army at the front, were the catalyst for resuming discussions on the issue of lowering the military enlistment age for Ukrainian citizens. The commander of the unmanned systems battalion of the 29th separate air defense missile brigade with the nickname Ham, in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Anna Maksimchuk, noted that 23-year-olds could start enlisting as early as 2026.
