News Feed

Ukraine's parliament lowers enlistment age for young adults

1 min read

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, voted in favor of proposed legislation to lower the maximum age of military enlistment for young adults from 27 to 25, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported on May 30.

The conscription of young adults aged 18 or older in Ukraine is different from military mobilization during war, which is also often called conscription.

Young adults are trained at military bases but are not sent to the frontline usually. On the other hand, military mobilization during war applies to men aged up to 60.

In a press release from May 4, the Defense Ministry explained that the military enlistment of young adults up to the age of 27 is not necessary under martial law. This system leads to additional unnecessary expenses and makes it impossible to mobilize people aged 25-27 for the war effort, the ministry said.

Under Ukrainian law, the conscription process for young adults includes registering at an enlistment office, undergoing necessary medical examinations, and being selected for military service if no exemptions and deferments were made. Military service for conscripts usually lasts around 12 months.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches 2 large-scale attacks on Kyiv in less than 24 hours
Key Developments on May 29: * Ukraine’s air defense shoots down 11 ballistic, cruise missiles aimed at Kyiv Oblast during second attack in 24 hours * Russian forces attack several oblasts, killing 4 people and injuring 25 * Ukraine’s parliament votes in favor of additional sanctions against Iran…
Avatar
The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

Read more
News Feed

By infiltrating Ukrainian positions in small infantry groups, Russia has accumulated around 200 troops within Pokrovsk, the General Staff reported. These personnel are engaging in "intense" small arms and drone clashes with Ukrainian troops in the city.

While Ukraine also lacks Western-supplied weapons, soldiers and commanders say shortages of basics — cars, drones and people — make holding back Russia extremely difficult. Even as Kyiv seeks U.S. approval for Tomahawks, they say critical, rudimentary gear is the more pressing need.

Russia faces an increase in the arson and “spontaneous combustion” of electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and other infrastructure helping Moscow wage its war against Ukraine over the past week, a source at Ukraine’s military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.

Video

The episode covers Russian war crimes in Pokrovsk and continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, including missile strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv. While Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire with Ukraine, has President Trump finally shifted his approach to Russia?

Show More