'Resilience and confident actions' — Umerov praises Ukraine's new 18-24-year-old recruits
"We saw them on the battlefield — and it's truly motivating," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
Conscription
Facing manpower shortage, Ukrainian brigade turns to women in first-ever female recruitment drive
Editor’s note: This article originated as a winning story idea in a vote by members of the Kyiv Independent’s community. Join our community today and join our exclusive members-only Discord channel, where you can discuss and suggest stories, ask our journalists questions, and more. "Her strength is her
Ukraine's Supreme Court rules religious belief does not exempt citizens from military service during wartime
The ruling comes from a case involving a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religious group whose doctrine forbids any form of military service.
Putin signs largest conscription campaign in 14 years, drafting 160,000 men
Although Russian conscripts are typically not deployed in active combat, Moscow has relied on financial incentives and pardons to recruit civilians for the war in Ukraine.
Kyiv and Washington’s mobilization age blame game misses the point
“The biggest problem is the lack of people.” These words, heard by journalists, including myself, from Ukrainian soldiers and commanders across the front line for the past year, are no outlier. For most of 2024 and into 2025, Ukraine’s biggest issue on the battlefield has not been firepower but
Mixed reactions as Ukraine introduces 1-year military contract for young volunteers
The contract includes basic general military training, vocational training, and an adaptation course in an army unit. Volunteers will receive a one-time monetary aid payment of Hr 1 million ($24,000) and a monthly allowance of up to Hr 120,000 ($3,000).
Ukraine considering offering high annual salary, free education, interest-free mortgage rates for young volunteer fighters, media reports
The Ukrainian military's "special contracts" for recruited volunteers aged 18 to 24, who are exempt from mobilization, will reportedly include a number of benefits, including a Hr 1 million ($24,000) annual salary, 0% interest mortgage rates, as well free higher education, Ukrinform reported on Feb. 10.
Man detained after allegedly killing draft officer in Ukraine's Poltava Oblast
The Poltava Oblast National Police detained a man who allegedly shot a draft officer, stole his weapon, and escaped with another man overnight on Jan. 31.
Russia approves conscription reforms to target draft evaders, streamline recruitment
Under the new legislation, draft board decisions for individuals deemed fit for service will remain valid for one year. This allows military commissions to send individuals to the army in subsequent drafts without requiring additional medical examinations or decisions.
Ukraine reforming recruitment system to attract 18-25-year-olds, senior official says
The move comes amid pressure from U.S. lawmakers to lower the draft age, though President Volodymyr Zelensky has opposed lowering it to 18, arguing it would harm Ukraine's future prospects.
Ukraine is failing the mobilization test
Ukrainian society largely does not want to mobilize. Nearly 6 million Ukrainian men have not updated their information in military enlistment centers, and most of them likely don't have grounds for a deferment or exemption. Forced mobilization of these men is categorically opposed by society. Rosy-cheeked aunts gather and shout
Ukraine won't trade young soldiers' lives for better weapons, Zelensky says
"The priority should be providing missiles and lowering Russia's military potential, not Ukraine's draft age. The goal should be to preserve as many lives as possible, not to preserve weapons in storage."
Ukraine needs 500,000 more troops amid slowing mobilization, senior lawmaker says
Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliamentary defense committee, stated on Nov. 2 that in his view it is necessary to mobilize 500,000 citizens, given current battlefield conditions.
160,000 people planned to be drafted into Ukrainian forces, National Security and Defense Council head says
Some 160,000 people are planned to be drafted into Ukrainian forces, which will raise the manning of units to 85%, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said on Oct. 29.
Kursk Oblast conscripts among Russians returned in POW exchange, Russian organization says
The returned prisoners also reportedly included some mobilized Russian fighters and contract soldiers, including kadyrovtsy, the notoriously ruthless troops named for Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.
Officers detained men outside Okean Elzy concert in Kyiv, official confirms
Video footage taken at the scene shows officers stationed outside the doors to the venue, intercepting male attendees as they exited the concert. Officers are shown forcibly arresting some men.
Ukrainian prisoners prepare to fight Russians for a chance at freedom
Several months ago, most of these infantrymen were serving their sentences behind bars. Now, they are part of the 1st Separate Assault Battalion, known as "Da Vinci."
Residents in Russia's Belgorod Oblast to be paid record $31,000 signing bonus for joining army
Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on Oct. 7 that residents in the region will be paid a nationwide record 3 million rubles (about $31,200) through a one-time signing bonus for joining the military.
Russian proxies in occupied Kherson Oblast announce forced conscription of Ukrainians
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, men aged 18 to 30 living in occupied Kherson Oblast will be subject to conscription into the Russian military for a period of 12 months.
Putin delays new mobilization, despite Kursk incursion exposing troop shortages
Amid speculation that the Kremlin is considering a new mobilization of conscripts, some potential draftees say they are not enthusiastic about defending Russian territory just over a month after the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast. "I won't go (to the front). I swore an oath to the Constitution, not to
Chechen commander says Russian conscripts must fight in Kursk Oblast, promises 'heaven' for killed
"No one will die who is not destined to die. But if you die defending your homeland, your faith in God, you will go to heaven," said Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the Chechen Akhmat Regiment fighting for Russia. Alaudinov himself isn't fighting on the front.
Ukraine reveals final number of men who updated mobilization data
From May 18 to July 16, 4,690,496 military-aged men updated their registration data by the July 17 deadline, the country's Defense Ministry has announced.
Ukrainian conscripts who fail to update military data on time may be fined, put on wanted list
Ukrainians liable for military service who fail to update their data by July 17 may be fined up to Hr 25,000 (nearly $600) or put on the wanted list. The deadline for updating data expires on July 17, 2024.
Ukrainian men abroad can now register for military service at foreign consulates
Ukrainian conscripts and reservists living abroad for more than three months can now register for military service at foreign consulates, Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced on June 7.
Defense Ministry: 1.6 million draft-aged men update military registration data
About 1.6 million Ukrainians have updated their information in line with new mobilization norms effective May 18, with over 1.4 million using the "Reserve+" application, Deputy Minister of Defense Kateryna Chernohorenko reported on June 5.
Defense Ministry: Around 1.5 million men have updated military data in new online system
Around 1.5 million military-aged men have successfully updated their military documents in compliance with a new mobilization law passed in late-May, the Defense Ministry reported on June 2.
Justice Minister: Nearly 350 prisoners have been released to join army after new conscription law
Nearly 350 prisoners have been released from detention to serve in the military after a new conscription law took effect, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska told the New York Times in an interview on May 24.
Conscript deemed fit for service dies in enlistment office due to 'rapid health deterioration'
The person's health "rapidly deteriorated" on May 23, upon which he was given first aid and medics were summoned, who could only declare him dead upon their arrival, the statement read.
Defense Ministry: 700,000 draft-aged men update military documents after launch of online app
According to the newly implemented law, all military-aged men, with some exceptions, must update their military documents within 60 days from May 18 at public service centers and enlistment offices, or via the online application Rezerv+.
Foreign Ministry to restore consular services for draft-aged men abroad on updated terms
The algorithm of consular services provision was updated to align with the new mobilization law's requirements, the Foreign Ministry said.
Economy minister cancels conscription exemption for Glovo, Favbet Tech employees
Last month, Ukraine's government decided to exempt from conscription employees at Favbet, Glovo, and the American-owned payment corporation Visa for six months.
Estonia will not force out Ukrainian men with expired passports
The Estonian Interior Ministry does not plan to conduct forced repatriation of Ukrainian refugees staying in Estonia, Anneli Viks, the ministry's advisor on citizenship and migration policy, said on April 30 in an interview with Estonian media outlet ERR.
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