Ukrainian military recruits inmates

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has signed a new law permitting men over the age of 60 to join the military on a contractual basis, in an apparent attempt to compensate for ongoing manpower shortages in the armed forces.

The legislation allows retirement-age men to serve in non-combat roles, provided they pass a medical evaluation and receive approval from a unit commander. These contracts will be valid for one year and can be extended with further authorization.

Originally introduced in April, the bill recently passed its second reading in the Ukrainian parliament. Currently, 60 is the official retirement age for Ukrainian men. Since the general mobilization declared in February 2022, men aged 18 to 60 have been prohibited from leaving the country. In 2024, the government further reduced the conscription age from 27 to 25 and introduced stricter draft regulations.

Ukraine's draft system has faced criticism due to increasingly forceful recruitment tactics, including public altercations, alleged abuses, and detentions. Although the Ukrainian government dismisses many of these reports as misinformation, international bodies like the Council of Europe have expressed concern over claims of torture and deaths linked to the draft process.

In a recent interview, Zelensky acknowledged the persistent difficulties surrounding mobilization. Official data reveals more than 213,000 desertion cases across the military, with corruption, withheld combat pay, and poor conditions cited as major factors behind the discontent.

Earlier this year, Ukraine launched a voluntary enlistment initiative focused on men aged 18 to 24. However, Russia has accused Kiev of sacrificing its youth, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calling the campaign “a one-way ticket.” Moscow continues to assert that Ukraine’s Western allies are pushing the conflict forward at Ukraine’s expense.

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