Ukraine's Ministry of Defense is preparing changes to the military draft age and other radical mobilization measures, senior lawmaker Roman Kostenko has announced. Speaking on the television broadcast Govoryt Velykyi Lviv, Kostenko confirmed that discussions are underway regarding conscription age adjustments during mobilization.
Kostenko, who serves as secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, declined to clarify whether the draft age would be raised or lowered. He said the specific details would be announced later by the defense ministry or the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada is the unicameral parliament of Ukraine, which sets national security legislation and grants authority over mobilization to executive military bodies. Kostenko emphasized that implementing decisions on conscription remains the responsibility of the military command, the president, the government, and the defense minister.
Rules for women and large families
Despite the planned changes to the draft age, Kostenko stated that he does not expect any adjustments this year regarding the mobilization of women or parents with three or more children. He noted that he has seen no legislative proposals to alter existing policies for those groups.
Under current Ukrainian law passed by parliament, female citizens enter military service strictly on a voluntary basis. Kostenko said the legal framework for women remains clear and expressed confidence that no changes will be introduced in that area.
Previous proposals on universal service
The discussion around draft age comes after previous proposals regarding broader mobilization requirements. Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov previously argued that military duty in Ukraine should extend to all citizens, including women.
Reznikov estimated that expanding military duty to include women would immediately double Ukraine's mobilization resource. However, he acknowledged that implementing such a policy would require the Ukrainian parliament to pass formal legislative amendments.
