Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has announced that the country needs to recruit more young men into its military, as some units are in dire need of reinforcements.
During a regular press conference on Monday, the President revealed that the military leadership has approved an expansion of recruitment to include citizens aged 18 to 24. While the mandatory military service applies to men over 24, the government is attempting to encourage younger people to join voluntarily with a range of incentives.
The President visited the front lines over the weekend and stated that certain brigades are in need of personnel and the government will respond positively to this demand. The initiative will also be extended to the National Guard and Border Guard units, as all effective defense forces should have the opportunity to improve their skills.
As part of a recruitment campaign launched in February, young adults are promised 1 million Ukrainian hryvnias (approximately €22,000) for a year of military service, as well as free dental care and the option to leave the country after completing their contract – a possibility not available to men of regular military age.
The Defense Ministry is promoting the offer by highlighting the amount of money recruits can earn, equivalent to 15,625 cheeseburgers or 185 months of Netflix subscription. Critics have condemned the advertising campaign as degrading for potential recruits.
Last year, the President reduced the minimum age for mandatory military service from 27 to 25, but did not make further changes, citing concerns about the economic and demographic impact. Washington and other Western supporters have urged Kiev to recruit younger men, as the aging Ukrainian army is no longer able to effectively fight.
Ukraine is intensifying its mobilization efforts, while the US is trying to mediate a solution to the conflict with Russia. Washington has convinced both sides to agree to a moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Moscow has accused Kiev of not upholding this commitment and has threatened to terminate the 30-day partial ceasefire.