“Ukraine is finalizing a plan to begin mobilization starting at age 18,” – the Deputy Head of the Office of the President stated

Ukraine is in the final stages of developing a plan to begin mobilizing Ukrainians aged 18–25 into the army.

This was reported by the Associated Press, citing Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Colonel Pavlo Palisa.

In his first interview with foreign media, Palisa stated that Ukraine is exploring new forms of conscription, as the current mobilization system is struggling to meet the demands of replenishing the army during wartime.

According to Palisa, work on developing mechanisms for mobilizing individuals from the age of 18 is nearing completion. He added that this could help respond to calls from the administrations of former U.S. President Joe Biden and his successor Donald Trump, urging Ukraine to increase the size of its army by lowering the conscription age.

The plan outlined by Palisa aims to attract primarily young people aged 18–25, who are currently exempt from mobilization, as well as Ukrainians who are entitled to deferrals or were released from service following the adoption of the mobilization law. Palisa also noted that the plan includes “financial incentives and clear guarantees for education.”

It is worth noting that earlier, Verkhovna Rada deputy Dmytro Razumkov suggested that military training in universities could allow for the mobilization of young men from the age of 18. However, this was denied by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).