Google Alert – BD Army
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a new law permitting men over the age of 60 to enlist in the country’s military under contract-based service, in an effort to address mounting recruitment challenges amid the ongoing war with Russia, reports RT.
The law allows pension-age men to join non-combat roles if they are medically approved by military doctors and accepted by a unit commander. These contracts will last one year and may be renewed following further approval. The measure is expected to bolster logistical and support functions within the armed forces without placing older volunteers directly in combat zones.
Initially introduced in April, the bill passed its second reading in the Verkhovna Rada earlier this month. Under current Ukrainian law, 60 is the minimum retirement age for men.
Ukraine has faced growing personnel shortages since declaring a general mobilization in February 2022, which barred most men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, Kyiv lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and tightened mobilization rules, but these measures have so far failed to meet the country’s recruitment goals.
Voluntary enlistment campaigns targeting younger men have also seen limited success. At the same time, reports of forced conscription practices—ranging from street detentions to alleged abuse by draft officers—have triggered public concern, although the government frequently dismisses these allegations as Russian disinformation.
In an interview with Hungarian media, President Zelensky acknowledged that mobilization remains one of the most difficult issues facing the government. Over 213,000 registered cases of desertion have been reported, with some deserters citing corruption, extortion, and unfulfilled combat pay as reasons for abandoning their units.
The new law marks another attempt by Kyiv to expand its pool of available manpower as the war stretches into its fourth year. Critics, including Russian officials, have accused Ukraine and its Western allies of sacrificing the country’s population in a prolonged proxy war. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently described Ukraine’s latest recruitment efforts as “a one-way ticket,” accusing the government of “annihilating” its youth.
Despite international support and continued resistance on the front lines, Ukraine’s military remains under pressure to maintain both troop levels and public morale as the conflict shows no sign of resolution.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan