The mobilization process in Ukraine is in crisis. Military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova stated this in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda.
According to her, the territorial recruitment and social support centers, together with the police, provide the defense forces with “a certain number of recruits.” At the same time, the state is looking for a way to properly communicate with a part of society that has “withdrawn itself” from defending the country.
“We talk a lot about the responsibility of the state and little about the responsibility of that part of society that evades service, resists the military and has somewhat forgotten that Ukraine has been at war for 12 years,” says Reshetilova.
She believes that there is a “clear bias” in the media in favor of people who are not currently in the service. The Ministry of Defense has calculated how many recruits will allow changing fighters on the front line and ensuring rotation.
“According to the calculations of the Ministry of Defense, 1.6 million people are people who can now join the army. Obviously, then rotation could take place,” the ombudsman noted.
Renewing the army would even make it possible to carry out demobilization, she believes. New arrivals, in turn, need to be given clear terms of service, Reshetilova emphasized.
“It would be good for those who join the army to be told for how long they will come. Certainty will encourage people to serve. We must say that we have worked on the mistakes and offer to come for two to three years. In my opinion, this would be fair,” she added.
