The Ukrainian military had nearly 800,000 troops in October, according to Ukrainian Defence Ministry statistics.
Ukraine has lowered the military conscription age from 27 to 25 in an effort to replenish its depleted ranks after more than two years of war following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine for many months amid a growing shortage of infantry on top of a severe ammunition shortfall that has handed Russia the battlefield initiative. An affiliate of the so-called Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Kremlin has insisted, without providing evidence, that Ukraine and the West played a role in the killings, despite their strong denials.The law Mr Zelensky signed to lower the conscription age, known as 9281, is distinct from a more controversial and expansive draft mobilisation law which is still being considered in parliament.
Lowering the conscription age probably would not meet the military’s earlier request for 500,000 new recruits, she said. Ukraine currently forbids men younger than 60 from travelling abroad. Commanders say they do not have enough soldiers to launch offensives, and barely enough to hold positions during intensifying Russian assaults.
Such a major mobilisation would cost Ukraine the equivalent of 13.4 billion dollars, Mr Zelenskyy said at the time. Other aspects to be considered include whether troops currently on the front would be rotated or allowed home leave, he said.
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