General Marchenko on lowering the conscription age to 25 and mobilization: «I take it very positively»

Major General Dmytro Marchenko

Major General Dmytro Marchenko considers it absolutely necessary to reduce the conscription age of men from 27 to 25 years.

He expressed this opinion in an interview with DW.

He called it unfair that today 55-year-old men are obliged to mobilize, unlike 25-year-old men.

«I take it very positively. You understand, when men aged 50-55 leave, and at that time 25-year-old boys do not mobilize, it is not fair. 25 years is exactly the age of any man, as they say in the prime of life,» said Dmytro Marchenko.

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The major general also explained his decision by the fact that among the soldiers of the Russian army, the vast majority of mobilized young people.

«f you look at those who are fighting on that side, the bulk of them are young guys. Therefore, this is an extremely necessary measure,» said the Major General.

Learn more about mobilization and lowering the conscription age 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.

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.

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.

In addition, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umierov, recently stated that Ukrainians aged 25-60 living in Germany and other countries must appear at the conscription points of the Armed Forces next year, otherwise sanctions will be applied to them.

Germany, in turn, stated that they cannot force Ukrainian citizens who are in Germany to return to the Motherland and fight.