All Ukrainian men between the ages of 25 and 60 who have left the country will be summoned for military service

BILD’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Paul Ronzheimer, conducted an interview with Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv. It marked the Minister’s first interaction with a European media outlet. Umerov emphasized that all Ukrainian men within the conscription age bracket, spanning from 25 to 60 years old, will be required to receive notifications to report to the Ukrainian Armed Forces conscription center.

“We aim for fairness across the board, as this pertains to our homeland. We will issue summonses to them,” Umerov affirmed. “Defending and serving one’s country isn’t punitive; it’s an esteemed honor.”

The Minister conveyed a warning of potential penalties for those who do not heed the conscription notices. However, specifics regarding these sanctions remain under discussion. “We are currently deliberating the course of action for those who don’t comply voluntarily,” he explained. Umerov stressed the importance of providing future conscripts with comprehensive insight into their training, equipment, service tenure and demobilization process. Additionally, he mentioned introducing diverse service options based on the recruits’ skills. According to German authorities, since February 24, 2022, a total of 221,571 Ukrainians aged 25 to 60 have entered the country. Of this group, 189,484 individuals continue to reside in Germany.