MP: around 2 million Ukrainian men of military age are out of sight of recruitment centers

Around two million Ukrainian men of military age are not registered and are effectively invisible to the territorial recruitment and manning centers.

This was stated by Verkhovna Rada MP from the Servant of the People faction, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Oleksandr Fediyenko on the air of Espreso.

According to the MP, the planned mobilization reform should begin precisely with identifying this category of citizens and updating data on them.

“We have approximately 2 million draft dodgers. They are not in the field of view. It is necessary to create conditions so that they can get on the radar as much as possible. And only then look at the mobilization resource, understand who has a reserve, who has a deferment, and so on,” the MP said.

Fediyenko noted that instead of working with this category, the authorities are currently looking for simpler ways to replenish the mobilization resource. According to him, a similar approach had previously been proposed by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.

The MP also expressed skepticism about parliament’s readiness to address this issue. In his opinion, the Rada is already “living in anticipation of the upcoming elections,” and MPs are worried about their ratings.

Earlier, the Rada reported on the development of draft laws on sanctions against persons evading military service. In addition, parliament claimed that the mobilization reform would hit first and foremost the draft dodgers who are wanted by the recruitment centers.