The question of mobilization in Ukraine does not lose its relevance. There is an ongoing discussion in society and among the military about the need to lower the age threshold for conscription. The chief sergeant of the UAV attack company Yehor Firsov, speaking on Radio Svoboda, expressed a clear position: it is not advisable to recruit 18-year-olds to the Armed Forces.
Firsov notes that in Ukraine there is enough reserve among the adult population, which is not yet involved in military operations. As an example, he cited the situation with sports halls in Kyiv:
"I went to a gym, every second or third person there is a stocky man. It's not the women who came. We have enough athletes, policemen, and other categories of the population who could replenish the Armed Forces."
The master sergeant emphasizes that it is necessary to use human resources rationally, in particular, by mobilizing those who are physically ready for service, instead of involving very young citizens.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, also spoke out against lowering the mobilization age. In his post on the X microblog, he emphasized the importance of saving the lives of young people and focusing on the supply of modern equipment for the Armed Forces:
“The priority should be the supply of missiles and the reduction of Russia's military potential, not the reduction of the conscription 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 equipment and training of the army.
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 looking for a balance between attracting all possible reserves and preserving the young generation for the post-war reconstruction of the country.
Lowering the conscription age may cause additional criticism both among citizens and international partners, who focus on quality rather than quantity of personnel.
