The physical health of most men aged 55 to 60 is unsatisfactory for active military service. For this reason, a group of people's deputies initiated draft law No. 12222, which proposes to reduce the age limit for being in the reserve and in military service from 60 to 55 years.
What does the bill provide for?
The draft law proposes to amend the Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service" by establishing the age limit for military personnel:
- Privates, sergeants and non-commissioned officers, as well as junior and senior officers - up to 55 years of age.
At the same time, citizens who wish to continue serving after reaching the age limit are allowed to remain in the ranks.
Lawmakers justify their initiative with a number of reasons:
- Health status. At the age of 55–60, most men already have serious health problems. This is confirmed by data from military medical commissions (MMCs).
- Overwork of experienced soldiers. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, many older soldiers have been continuously in service. The ATO Veterans Union calls for allowing such people to return to civilian life.
- “Aging of the Army.” The Armed Forces recognize that in some cases older people cannot effectively perform combat missions. Frontline commanders emphasize that soldiers aged 50+ can be useful, but they should be used in areas where physical exertion is less critical.
The issue of reducing the mobilization age has caused significant public resonance. Several petitions demanding a reduction in the mobilization age have been registered on the official website of the President. One of these petitions has gained over 25,000 signatures in two months, indicating a high level of support for the initiative.
Despite the obvious logic of the proposal, experts point out the importance of a thoughtful approach to the issue.
- Scope of application of older people. Instead of completely excluding people 50+ from combat missions, it is worth creating specialized units or retraining them to perform logistical, staff, or engineering tasks.
- Comprehensive medical assessment. Not all people aged 55–60 have the same health status. This means that an individualized approach may be more effective.
Lowering the age limit for mobilization could be the first step towards a more flexible model for manning the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, the state should strengthen the work on training younger age categories and create conditions for the return of military personnel to civilian life.
