Dmitry Lazutkin, spokesperson for the Ukraine Defense Ministry, has urged Ukrainian citizens to brace themselves for sacrifices and forsake their tranquil lives in the face of the Russian threat.
Kiev is overhauling its military conscription system to bolster its troop numbers amidst setbacks in the ongoing conflict with Russia, rolling out stringent reforms set to kick in next week.
"With the mobilization law taking effect on May 18, our approach to this war will undergo a significant shift," Lazutkin emphasized, quoted by Espresso TV.
"The era where some live undisturbed while others fight on the frontlines is drawing to a close."
Lazutkin juxtaposed the peaceful life in Kiev with the dire circumstances in the eastern regions, labeling it as "abnormal."
"It would be reasonable if our adversary were feeble. But facing such a formidable foe, our entire nation and society must mobilize," he stressed.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022, Ukraine has been grappling with the urgent task of replenishing nearly half a million casualties, according to Moscow's estimates. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu revealed on March 20 that Ukraine has suffered 71,000 military fatalities and lost 11,000 units in 2024 alone.
To tackle this pressing issue, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently enacted amendments to conscription regulations. These amendments entail lowering the draft age to 25, automating summons, empowering enlistment officers, and imposing stricter penalties for draft evasion. Additionally, the Foreign Ministry has suspended consular services for military-eligible Ukrainians abroad.
Under the new legislation, fines for violations of military registration rules will surge up to $520, with Ukrainian authorities warning of freezing bank accounts and confiscating property of draft dodgers.
In response to these heightened measures, there has been a noticeable surge in Ukrainian men attempting to flee the country. Border Service spokesperson Andrey Demchenko disclosed that approximately 120-150 individuals are intercepted daily while trying to leave Ukraine, with some meeting tragic fates in the process.
The Ukrainian armed forces are increasingly grappling with a shortage of manpower and encountering challenges in recruitment efforts due to "political, demographic, and mounting reluctance among Ukrainians to enlist," as reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) last month.
The report underscored the pressing need for recruits in the Ukrainian armed forces, yet lamented the "political indecision" that has left frontline units in a precarious state, noting that a draft law aimed at expanding conscription remains mired in Ukrainian parliament after months of deliberation.
According to the WSJ, the proposed changes in the law are somewhat modest, including reducing the draft age from 27 to 25, granting soldiers the option to exit the Ukrainian army after three years of service, and imposing penalties on draft dodgers.
The WSJ highlighted that the failure of Ukraine's major counteroffensive launched last year and the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers have shaken the confidence of Ukrainians in reclaiming territory.
It was noted that while men aged between 18 and 60 have been barred from leaving the country since the conflict began, conscription is applicable only to those under 27, with most of the youth population exempted.
The newspaper verified that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men continue to evade conscription, with some reporting instances of coercion including beatings or detentions until they sign conscription papers.
Furthermore, tens of thousands of soldiers have been wounded, rendering many unfit for combat, while those remaining face exhaustion and shortages of artillery shells, exacerbated by delays in shipments from the United States.
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