Fedorov called for a review of the rules governing mobilization and military service
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that Ukraine needs to change its approach to mobilization and its handling of conscripts. According to him, it is important to modernize the military service system, establish clear timeframes, and improve conditions for those who are drafted into the army. He also highlighted organizational issues and the need to combat corruption.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that the system of mobilization and work with conscripts needs to be reformed, and the state must develop a more transparent and humane approach toward those entering military service. According to him, the military today needs to be revitalized not only through the recruitment of new personnel but also through fairer rules and better-organized processes.
Fedorov emphasized that some military personnel have been serving for a long time without being replaced, and the state must give them the opportunity to return to civilian life when possible, as well as clearly define the terms of service. “We need to replace people who have been in the army for a long time. We need new people to come in who have energy, and we need to give freedom to those who have defended our independence,” the minister said.
He added that establishing clear rules for military service will help improve the recruitment process itself, making it more predictable and effective. “If we demonstrate that there are fixed terms of service, we will be able to more easily establish a genuine recruitment process,” Fedorov noted.
Separately, the minister emphasized that tens of thousands of people are mobilized into the army every month, and the vast majority of them go through the process in the usual manner prescribed by law, even though public attention often shifts to isolated high-profile cases.
Fedorov also said that during his visits to mobilization collection points, he noticed organizational problems that affect people’s emotional state. “I saw a young man standing in shorts with a bag who had been forcibly mobilized that morning. It was already 4:00 p.m., and I asked why they hadn’t let him get dressed,” he said.
According to the minister, such situations create additional psychological pressure and instill a sense of uncertainty in people about what will happen next. “In other words, when a person arrives at such a facility in that state, their first question is, ‘What happens next?’” he added.
Fedorov also stressed the need to completely eradicate corruption and bribery in the mobilization process, emphasizing that transparency is critical to maintaining trust in the system. He had previously stated that military personnel who have been continuously engaged in combat operations since 2022 may be given the opportunity to return to civilian life even if the war continues. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov made this statement in an interview with TSN as part of the national telethon “United News.”
Ukrainian authorities have verified nearly 19,500 children who were located after being illegally taken by Russia from the temporarily occupied territories. At the same time, Russian documents cite significantly higher figures for the forced displacement of Ukrainian children.
