Honest contract and dialogue: Ukraine is preparing a program to help recruit young men under 25
24 January 2025 12:42
In order to strengthen the combat capabilities of the army, Ukraine is developing measures that will help to attract Ukrainians aged 18 to 25, who are currently exempt from mobilization, to defend the country. This is stated in an article by the Associated Press, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the publication, the relevant reform is being developed by Colonel Pavlo Palisa, recently appointed deputy head of the Presidential Office, a combat commander.
In his first interview with foreign media since taking up his new position last fall, Pavlo Palisa said that Ukraine is exploring new recruitment options, as the current conscription system, inherited from the Soviet era, is hindering progress.
He acknowledges that both the mobilization law passed last spring and the reduction of the conscription age from 27 to 25 did not have the necessary impact on the replenishment of the Ukrainian army and failed to compensate for the losses on the battlefield of the war with Russia. This necessitates the development of new measures.
How do they plan to encourage Ukrainians to join the army?
One of the initiatives, according to Pavlo Palisa, is what can be called a “fair contract”: a plan that includes, among other things
– financial incentives
– clear guarantees of training
– measures to ensure a dialog between soldiers and their commanders.
“It is important to establish open and professional relations between a unit commander and a contract soldier, with clear boundaries understood by both,” the official said, emphasizing that this is necessary for effective dialogue.
The plan is aimed at recruiting mainly 18-25-year-olds who are currently exempt from mobilization, as well as Ukrainians who are eligible for a deferral or exemption from service after the adoption of the mobilization law.
The Associated Press notes that efforts to develop this program, according to Pavlo Palisa, are in the final stages and could help answer calls from the Biden and Trump administrations that Ukraine could expand its mobilization capacity by lowering the draft age.
The agency reminds that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is categorically against the introduction of mandatory mobilization from the age of 18, stating that this will radically affect the future prospects of the war-torn country.
In an interview with AP, Palisa also said that his office, in cooperation with the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Defense, is investigating why the mobilization efforts have failed.
“We do have a huge mobilization resource. In my opinion, at the moment it is more than what we need now to solve certain problems on the front line. However, the mechanism we have now does not allow us to be as effective as we could be,” said Pavlo Palisa.
According to him, it is necessary to start an open dialog with the society, because the defense of the state is the duty not only of the Armed Forces, but also of every citizen of Ukraine.
What else did AP say about Pavlo Palisa?
According to the publication, the newly appointed official was taken directly from the battlefield to the President’s office and sees his new job as an opportunity to solve systemic problems in the army.
“This is a unique opportunity to draw the attention of the country’s top leadership to pressing military issues,” says Pavlo Palisa.
In his opinion, there is an urgent need for reforms to improve the coordination and effectiveness of combat operations.
“(We need to) adapt the structure to the logic of modern warfare, which will allow us to be more effective and prevent us from repeating mistakes. This is what needs to be done. There is no other way,” he said.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Pavlo Palisa was studying at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He graduated remotely in the summer of 2022, fighting on the front line. He then commanded the 93rd Cold Yar Brigade during the grueling nine-month battle for Bakhmut. After completing his current mission, Pavlo Palisa intends to return to his role on the battlefield.
