The issue of mobilization in Ukraine does not lose its relevance. In society and among the military, there is an ongoing discussion about the need to lower the age threshold for conscription. Senior Sergeant of the UAV strike company Yegor Firsov, speaking on Radio Liberty, expressed a clear position: it is inappropriate to recruit 18-year-olds to the Armed Forces.
Firsov notes that Ukraine has enough reserves among the adult population that has not yet been involved in military operations. As an example, he cited the situation with gyms in Kyiv:
“I went to the gym, and every second or third person there was a stocky man. It wasn’t women who came. We have enough athletes, police officers, and other categories of the population who could replenish the Armed Forces.”
The sergeant major emphasizes the need to use human resources rationally, in particular, by mobilizing those who are physically ready for service instead of attracting very young citizens.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke out against lowering the military age. In a post on his microblog X, he stressed the importance of saving the lives of young people and focusing on supplying modern equipment to the Armed Forces:
“The priority should be the supply of missiles and reducing Russia’s military potential, not lowering the military age. The goal should be to save as many lives as possible.”
This approach supports the idea that victory in war is achieved not only by numbers, but also by the quality of the army's equipment and training.
The question of whether Ukraine is sufficiently using its mobilization potential remains relevant. Discussions among military experts, politicians, and the public indicate that society is seeking a balance between engaging all possible reserves and preserving the younger generation for the country's post-war reconstruction.
Lowering the conscription age may cause additional criticism among both citizens and international partners, who focus on the quality, not the quantity, of personnel.
