The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has lowered the age limit for conscription from 27 to 25 years. Here's what changes men liable for military service can expect. As stated in the explanatory note to the draft law, until now, citizens who are fit for military service and who have turned 18 by the day of deployment to military units and older persons who have not reached the age of 27 and are not entitled to an exemption or deferment from conscription are called up for military service. At the same time, citizens who have reached the age of 27 while being registered for military service are subject to military registration. It also specifies that during the legal regime of martial law in Ukraine, there is no need for citizens under the age of 27 to be registered with the military for a long time.

Why was the conscription age reduced? Defense Minister's explanation

Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov justified the reduction in the conscription age by the need to replenish the mobilization reserve. Previously, the maximum conscription age was 27 years. If a man turned 27 and had not served in the army, he could not be forcibly mobilized. After the law was amended, men aged 25 to 60, even without military service experience, could be forcibly mobilized in wartime. The draft law expanded the range of persons who could be mobilized to include conscripts aged 25 and 26, who were not previously subject to mobilization.

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What do lawyers say?

According to some lawyers, the changes will not fundamentally change anything, as any adult male can be drafted during general mobilization. It is worth noting that Article 23 of the Law "On Mobilization" does not mention the conscription age. There is only a clarification on partial mobilization - persons liable for military service who were called up for military service during mobilization and were discharged from the reserve are exempted from it.

The war in Ukraine. Who can be called up to the front?

During general mobilization, all citizens liable for military service aged 18 to 60 can be called up for military service, unless they have legal grounds for deferment or exclusion from the register. However, according to the law, the following may be granted a deferment - reserved workers (not all professions) - men with disabilities; - parents with three or more minor children; - single parents; - parents of a child with a disability and a seriously ill child; - parents raising an adult child with a disability of group I-II; - a guardian of a spouse, parents (own or spouse's) with a disability or serious illness; - a guardian of an incapacitated person or a person with a disability; - men with a minor child, if their wife is performing military service. The full list is available here. In addition, we previously wrote that the Verkhovna Rada has expanded the list of persons granted a deferral from conscription during mobilization. Read more about this in our article.