Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the country will expand its recruitment of young men into its military, citing a need for reinforcements in certain units. The military leadership has approved the expansion of recruitment to include citizens aged 18 to 24, with the aim of encouraging more young people to join voluntarily.
Zelensky stated that he has visited the front lines and that there is a demand for certain brigades, which will be met by the recruitment of young specialists. The initiative will also extend to the National Guard and Border Guard units, as all effective defense forces should be given the opportunity to improve their skills.
As part of a recruitment campaign launched in February, young adults will be offered 1 million hryvna (approximately 22,000 euros) for a year of military service, as well as free dental care and the option to leave the country after completing their service, an option not available to men in the regular combat age.
The Defense Ministry is promoting the offer by highlighting the amount of money the recruits can buy with the payment, equivalent to 15,625 cheeseburgers or 185 months of Netflix subscription. Critics have condemned the advertising campaign as degrading for potential recruits.
Last year, Zelensky lowered the minimum age for military service from 27 to 25, but did not make further changes, citing concerns about the economic and demographic impact. The US and other Western supporters have urged Kiev to recruit younger men, as the aging Ukrainian army is no longer able to effectively fight.