[51058] Debates on tightening mobilization in Ukraine: mobilization age, cancellation of exemptions, and deferment arrangements

Debates on tightening military policy in Ukraine

In the last 24 hours, Telegram channels in Ukraine have been dealing with a series of proposals intended to address the shortage of personnel in the army. The Telegram channel Труха⚡️Україна, identified with a line supporting the Zelensky administration, reports that publications attributing to legislators an intention to lower the mobilization age to 23 have been denied by sources in the Defense Committee and are defined there as a "lie and provocation." On the other hand, attorney Sergey Sternsky claims in the Times of Ukraine and in several other channels, including Киевский Движ, that the issue is indeed on the table in internal discussions among members of parliament, alongside the possibility of restricting the departure of young people from the country.

At the same time, a controversial proposal was raised by Member of Parliament Serhiy Nahornyak, as published in ТСН новини and КЛОЧОК. Nahornyak claims that "98% of disability certificates were purchased" and calls for a sweeping cancellation of them (except for war wounded) and their replacement with an official "deferment payment service." According to him, the move will help inject funds into the state treasury and reduce corruption.

Other voices warn against relying on rumors. The channel Ху Київ | Україна, which criticizes the policy of Israel and Russia but supports the Ukrainian war effort, emphasizes that these are not official decisions and reminds that the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office has previously ruled out changes to the mobilization age. The channel calls on the public to "trust only verified sources" and to avoid being dragged into speculations by legal commentators.