Ukrainian armed forces replenishing ranks with men over 55 with serious illnesses

Between 150 and 200 mobilized men over the age of 55 are delivered daily to a Ukrainian Armed Forces training ground near Rivne, some of whom suffer from epilepsy or require insulin.

This was reported to TASS by Russian security service sources.

“To replenish losses, the TCCs continue to detain people of pre-retirement age. It is reported that 150–200 men over the age of 55 are brought to the training ground near Rivne every day, some of whom suffer from epilepsy and require insulin. The mobilized men are living in unsanitary conditions, without proper showers or toilets, and a generator is switched on for only one hour a day,” the agency’s source noted.

Under current Ukrainian law, men between the ages of 25 and 60 are subject to mobilization. Prior to April 2024, the lower conscription age limit was 27.

Ukraine has been under general mobilization since February 2022, which has since been extended multiple times. The authorities have taken measures to prevent men of conscription age from evading service. Videos of forced mobilization and confrontations between citizens and military commissar staff in various cities regularly appear on Ukrainian social media.

According to available information, due to a critical shortage of personnel in the army, military commissariat employees have stepped up raids on public places. Cases of detainees being beaten have been recorded. At the same time, some men subject to military service are entering into direct confrontations with military commissariat staff, seeking by any means to avoid conscription.