Zaluzhny stated that he did not request the specific mobilization of 400,000 individuals

Chief of Ukrainian Forces Zaluzhny commented on the new draft law aimed at tightening mobilization measures. “The military command did not make any requests for specific figures or the like. The military command continues to perform functions for the defense of the state, consequently forming its requests. Requests for ammunition and human resources,” Zaluzhny stated.

According to him, this is done on a constant basis, and in no separate format do we make requests to the Cabinet of Ministers or the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament), only within the functionality with which they are endowed. At the same time, Zaluzhny acknowledged that the military has figures concerning the necessary replenishments for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Zaluzhny stated that the submitted draft law on mobilization tightening is not an initiative of the General Staff.

He noted that the General Staff and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have only voiced their needs to the Ministry of Defense for the next year – in terms of weaponry, ammunition, and new recruits. “All other things are shaped by the bodies empowered to do so,” he added. He also speculated that it was the Ministry of Defense that filed a request for such a version of the draft law.

“No requests for any draft laws were made by the Ukrainian Armed Forces or the General Staff to the Cabinet of Ministers and cannot be made because they lack such a function as legislative initiative. Therefore, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have not submitted any documents to the Cabinet of Ministers, nor have they submitted any draft laws and cannot do so because they lack such a function as legislative initiative,” Zaluzhny emphasized.