Media report on draft law to lower mobilization age. Verkhovna Rada denies

A draft law to lower the conscription age to 18 years has been developed and is “awaiting approval” in the Verkhovna Rada.

This information reported according to the online publication Poltavshchyna, citing a representative of the 17th Poltava Brigade, Serhii Lunyich.

Lunyich reportedly stated that the brigade is preparing to receive a significant influx of recruits soon, primarily young men around the age of 20.

“Serhii Lunyich reluctantly admitted that the draft law to lower the conscription age from 25 to 18 is already on the table in the Verkhovna Rada and awaiting approval. Higher-level mobilization bodies have instructed military units in advance to prepare for the arrival of new recruits so they can immediately begin combat training,” the publication wrote.

The Verkhovna Rada, however, has issued widespread denials of this information.

“There are no draft laws to lower the conscription age from 25 to 18 in the Verkhovna Rada or in our Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, specifically—nor have there ever been,” stated Oleksandr Zavitnevych, head of the National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee.

Similar denials were issued by MPs Fedir Venislavskyi (Sluga Naroda, member of the Defense Committee) and Oleksii Honcharenko (European Solidarity).

The 17th Brigade has also clarified that Lunyich is not part of the brigade’s command (neither a commander nor deputy) and is not authorized to comment on draft laws or proposed amendments.

It is worth noting that the original publication did not claim the law had been submitted or is being actively reviewed by deputies. It stated only that the draft is “on the table,” potentially at the leadership level of the Verkhovna Rada.

Publicly, Ukrainian authorities have consistently denied plans to lower the conscription age, despite open calls from Western partners urging such a move.