Ukraine’s army currently does not have sufficient personnel reserves for a large-scale release of experienced fighters. Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol told journalists at a meeting that he understands the desire of service members who have been fighting for years to demobilise, as he himself has been taking part in combat operations since 2014.
However, Ukraine cannot afford to demobilise trained personnel at present. The main problem is the difficulty of quickly replacing experienced service members who perform critically important functions in the army with new recruits who would be trained to the same level as seasoned troops.
“I’ve been at war since 2014 as well. I understand it. But I also understand that this is war right now. We are defending our land and our country. Every citizen must be aware of that,” he said.
- This year, the Ministry of Defence presented new contracts, with service terms ranging from 10 to 24 months and a one-year deferral after completing service.
- The proposal was not received unequivocally: in particular, it was criticised by defenders who have been fighting since 2022 or even since the days of the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation.