in kyiv, Parliament adopts controversial bill on military mobilization

The Ukrainian Parliament adopted, Thursday April 11, according to deputies, a bill toughening the conditions for mobilization in the army. A controversial text, because it does not provide for a demobilization period for soldiers. “It’s done! the law on mobilization is adopted. 283 [députés ont voté] For”elected official Oleksiï Goncharenko announced on Telegram.

Ukraine, faced with a shortage of volunteer soldiers, had been working on this text for many months, punctuated by controversy after more than two years of war against the Russian invader. The text, which notably increases the sanctions for those who resist, caused a scandal because of the last minute deletion of a clause providing for the demobilization of soldiers who had served 36 months, a hard blow for the soldiers who have been fighting on the front for more than of two years.

Tougher sanctions for those who want to escape them

The Ukrainian army, weakened by a failed counter-offensive in the summer of 2023 and dwindling Western aid, is trying to contain Russian assaults at multiple points on the front. For this, it needs men and ammunition. As Ukraine struggled to find volunteers, it first broadened the mobilization, lowering the age of those called up from 27 to 25 years. From now on, the sanctions for those trying to escape mobilization will be toughened. The text also facilitates enrollment procedures by creating a dedicated digital system.

For the text to come into force, the President of Parliament must now hand it over to the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who will have to promulgate it.