Zelensky lowers draft age by two years to bolster Ukrainian army
Ukrainian President lowers draft age to bolster armed forces amid conflict with Russia.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently signed a law lowering the country’s draft age from 27 to 25 as part of efforts to bolster the armed forces amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The law, referred to as 9281, was signed alongside two other measures, a year after being passed by the Ukrainian parliament. Zelensky acknowledged that the exact number of new conscripts required was uncertain. An audit revealed that the initial estimate of needing 500,000 additional troops was inaccurate. Around 1 million Ukrainians, including military troops and related units, were estimated to be in uniform. The new law differs from a more comprehensive draft bill, 10449, which is currently in the parliamentary process and addresses issues beyond just lowering the draft age. Concerns remain about public support for the war, potential economic impacts of increased recruitment, and challenges in recruiting new soldiers.