The issue of lowering the mobilization age causes significant discussions in society, but, according to experts, decisions should be made by military structures. This was stated by Oleksandr Gladun, Doctor of Economic Sciences and Deputy Director of the Institute of Demography and Quality of Life Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in an interview with Radio Liberty.
"This is not a question for demographers or politicians, but for the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, which must assess their need for military personnel and make decisions based on this," Gladun emphasized.
At the same time, the expert drew attention to the demographic context. The lowest birth rate in Ukraine was recorded in 2001, and it is this generation that today falls into the age category of mobilization. The problem is complicated by the fact that the average age of parents at the time of the birth of children in Ukraine is 28-31 years. The death or injury of young parents directly affects the demographic situation.
However, as Gladun emphasized, the issue of national security is of primary importance:
"If we do not stand up, what kind of demographics will we be talking about? Especially since in the occupied territories young people are being forcibly mobilized to join the Russian army."
In the conditions of the war, Ukraine is already experiencing significant demographic losses. The birth rate has fallen to a critical level, and the prognosis looks bleak. According to the first deputy minister of social policy, Daria Marchak, by 2040, the population of Ukraine may decrease to 25 million.
The honored doctor of Ukraine, Olga Bogomolets, warned that under unchanged conditions, the Ukrainian nation may disappear in 180 years. Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Victoria Vagner, also emphasized that Ukraine has the lowest birth rate and the highest death rate in the world.
