Company commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Shevchuk announced a shortage of soldiers in the Ukrainian army
Machine translation
Mobilization in Ukraine should become more massive, as there are not enough people at the front. This opinion was expressed in a conversation with the Ukrainian publication “Politics of the Country” by the company commander of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vladislav Shevchuk. A general mobilization is already in place in Ukraine, and officials have recently said that there is no need to increase description. However, they admit that the situation may change with the development of events at the front.
“There are not enough people,” Shevchuk said. “Soldiers run out, every day. Those who think that they can sit out in the deep rear will not work like this. There are few people, because we have a full-scale war, and for some reason the mobilization is not full- scale.”
According to Shevchuk, everyone who considers himself a citizen of Ukraine should stand up for the country.
“Sooner or later, the authorities and the military-political leadership will come up with this. The people sitting there are not stupid people. And there is great hope for the new Minister of Defense ( Rustem Umerov . – Gazeta. Ru”), that not only the introduction of some technologies in the life of the Ministry of Defense and the troops in general will lead to mass mobilization, but also a tough approach to this matter,” Shevchuk said.
The serviceman said that he sees “nothing wrong when military registration and enlistment offices, recruitment centers go around and actually catch the hands of those who must fulfill their constitutional duty.”
“It doesn’t bother me when I lose my people who are on a combat mission. We don’t want to defend draft dodgers,” Vladislav Shevchuk said.
Mobilization continues
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a general mobilization on February 24, 2022, when Russian troops entered the country.
In August, the deadline for general mobilization (as well as martial law) was extended for the eighth time by 90 days – until November 15.
The mobilization applies to men from 18 to 60 years old, who, for health reasons, can perform military service. They are forbidden to leave the country.
Publicly, the Ukrainian authorities do not disclose the size of the armed forces. But on August 22, Oleksiy Reznikov , then Defense Minister, said that about a million citizens had taken part in hostilities in Ukraine since the spring of 2014.
There is no need to expand the draft
“Today, there are no grounds to talk about the need to expand, accelerate or increase the number of mobilization measures,” Fedir Venislavsky , the president’s representative in the Verkhovna Rada and a member of the parliament’s committee on security and defense, said in an interview with the BBC .
Work is underway in the country to form reserves, “which are needed for the offensive and liberation of territories.”
“But today there are no grounds to say that it is necessary to sharply increase the number of mobilized,” Venislavsky said.
Ukraine is doing everything not to increase the pace of mobilization, said Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavlyuk . He mentioned that the defense of the homeland is “the task of every man.” Therefore, “we must prepare for this and be ready.”
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said in an interview with NV that the mobilization is going according to plan.
“Since 8:00 am on February 24, 2022, we have not stopped mobilization for a single day,” he is assured. “But it is taking place within the limits and in accordance with the plan, as ordered by our Armed Forces. <…>We don’t have any very glaring problems with mobilization, we don’t feel them today.”
Working with draft dodgers
With the threat of losing statehood in the country, a general mobilization may be announced, said Yegor Chernev , deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, deputy chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence .
“There are four stages of mobilization in Ukraine. And the fourth assumes that all men go to war. Now we are in the second stage of mobilization. But if the country is in danger and there is a real threat of losing statehood, then everyone will leave, as it was on February 24 (2022 – Ed.),” Chernev said in an interview with the information and political portal Novosti. LIVE” (quoted by RIA Novosti ).
The Ukrainian authorities admit that there is a problem of draft dodgers in the country. Therefore, amendments to regulatory legal acts are being prepared, which will complicate their lives.
“Proposals have already been prepared for amendments to the draft law regarding the registration of persons liable for military service, who then become military personnel. In order for people to be able to undergo the VVK, as well as all procedures related to mobilization at the place of residence. Now the final approvals on conceptual issues are underway, so that it is possible to make changes to the law of Ukraine and normalize the issues of accounting for military personnel,” said Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Natalia Kalmykova.
According to her, “it is better to come yourself and find the unit in which you want to serve and mobilize.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said at a press conference in Kyiv that representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had asked him to mobilize more people.
“Frankly speaking, the military turned to me to give me the opportunity to mobilize more. I can’t tell you anything more yet,” the head of state said.
