«If you`re a deviationist, you don`t have the right to live a full life and get high,» Kim told how he sees mobilization in Ukraine

Draft evaders do not have the right to a full life and entertainment, while the soldiers of the Armed Forces are fighting to defend Ukraine.

This opinion was expressed by the head of Mykolayiv RMA Vitalii Kim in an interview on the We — Ukraine TV channel.

According to Vitalii Kim, those who are trying to evade mobilization should stay at home and not «get high.» In particular, it makes no sense to ask those who are not motivated to serve in the army whether they are ready to mobilize, because the result in such a case is obvious, he believes.

« If you're a deviationist, you don't have the right to live a full life, get high. Stay at home. You have to have limitations because you don't do what others do. There is something like this: «A survey on the Internet showed that 100% of people use the Internet», so if we say whether we should mobilize among people who do not want to, then we will get the result, as in this survey. And if we take a sample of guys who fight and are silent, come home, see how others live a civilian life, but don't stop everyone with the question «Why aren't you fighting, you bastard?». They say: «I am fighting for you, I am right, for myself, for my country, I am a good man. You are goats, but I fight for you.» Therefore, it is necessary to take the opinion not only of those who do not fight, but first of all those who already from 2022, as it should be, defend the state with their heads held high,» says Vitalii Kim.

The leader of the Mykolaiv region says that the motivation for serving in the army should be sincere patriotism, because only in this case can one claim unconditional love for the homeland. At the same time, he adds that the military should receive a higher salary if the state can find the money.

«The motivation should not be monetary, but in this case (meaning service in the army, note) money can be a motivation. People compare risks. They will not even think about themselves, but about the family. The military receives about 20-30 thousand, in the combat zone another plus 100 thousand. If the state can allow paying more, it should be paid. But it is absolutely necessary to protect the state and love it,» believes Vitalii Kim.

To a journalist's question about whether the Mykolaiv region will provide additional payments to conscripts, as the authorities in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa plan to do, Vitalii Kim replied that the region does not have the funds for this.

«We are not a typical region. We have no money. We already spent everything on the military, we have a budget deficit because the military personal income tax was taken away, our economy is stagnant. It is difficult for me to appeal with such numbers, because where to get them? We have everything reduced and there is a salary deficit of about 30%. I cannot plan from the regional budget. The city budget of Mykolaiv will also have problems. Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa are profitable, they have a budget surplus, and it is logical for them to use this money to motivate potential military personnel. Everyone likes to say: «Let's pay a million.» And it is necessary to count funds in the budget. The Minister of Finance has to say how much we have enough. I am sure that neither Zelenskyy nor Zaluzhnyi cares about money for the military, but there must be a balanced system and the work of the state. In my opinion, it is necessary to pay more,» explained the head of RMA.

The updated law on mobilization in Ukraine

On December 19, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, gave a final press conference, where he announced that the General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi proposed to mobilize up to 400,000-500,000 more people for military operations.

Subsequently, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhnyi commented on the plans to mobilize 500,000 people into the ranks of the Ukrainian army. He said the command did not request specific numbers.

The head of the «Servant of the People» presidential faction, David Arakhamiia, said that on December 25, the government was supposed to submit a draft law on mobilization, which he is working on at the request of the military.

On January 4, the Council's Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence began considering a new law on mobilization. The discussion together with the command of the Armed Forces and representatives of the Ministry of Defense will last several days.

On January 11, draft law No. 10378 on improving mobilization, military registration and military service was sent back for revision.

What about the mobilization in Mykolaiv Oblast?

As you know, during the full-scale war, 33,000 residents of the Mykolaiv Oblast were mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces.

The head of the Mykolaiv regional military administration, Vitalii Kim, expressed his belief in the need for mobilization after personal communication with the military, who are currently defending the state.

The head of the RMA added that money should not be the main motivation for protecting the state.

In response to this, Oksana Kaliuzhna, a member of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, reacted negatively to the regional leadership's statement regarding mobilization, comparing the issuing of petitioner's summons to catching dogs.

Lowering the conscription age in Ukraine

As for the conscription age, Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that such a decision is fully reasoned. At the press conference, he agreed with the proposal to reduce the age limit for men on military registration from 27 to 25 years from 27 to 25 years.

This opinion is also shared by Major General Dmytro Marchenko, who considers it absolutely necessary to lower the conscription age.

Are women mobilized?

The President of Ukraine criticized the idea of forced mobilization of women.

«Women's mobilization — no, I will not sign. As for 25 years: if it is argued — and today I see that it is necessary — then I will agree with it,» said the president.

As you know, Ukraine currently has a clearly defined list of reasons and necessary documents for postponing conscripts from mobilization. A postponement may be granted due to health conditions, the presence of three or more minor children, or care for parents with disabilities.

We will remind that in June of this year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine submitted a draft law on reducing the list of persons who can receive a deferment from military service. After the signing of the law by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it will be possible not to serve only if there are no other people in the family capable of supporting a person with a disability.