Zelensky approved new rules for calling up reservists
On April 21, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that will allow reservists to be called up for military service without mobilization. According to the document published on the website of the head of state, a new type of military service is being established in the country – the service of reservists upon conscription during a special period. We are talking about Ukrainians who have signed contracts for service in the reserve or were enrolled in the operational reserve.
The changes came into force against the background of the aggravation of the conflict in Donbass, where the Ukrainian army had previously pulled equipment. At the end of March, this document, submitted to parliament by the head of state, was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in the second reading. He was supported by 256 out of 450 deputies.
In Kiev, they explained that now they will be able, if necessary, to promptly equip military units with reservists. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) will separately make decisions on the timing, number and procedure for recruiting reservists after a corresponding proposal from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (currently Ruslan Khomchak holds the post).
According to the plan of the Ukrainian authorities, the new law should increase combat effectiveness during “military aggression”. Reservists recruited during a special period will be guaranteed the same rights as the rest of the military. For example, now the state will be obliged to help young people with employment within six months after their demobilization.
The new law also changes the rules of military registration at recruiting stations on the ground in accordance with European principles.
On the basis of military registration and enlistment offices, territorial recruitment and social support centers will be created. To register reservists, a unified state register of conscripts, conscripts and reservists will be used.
Earlier, Zelenskiy carried out a reform of military ranks, taking NATO standards as a model.
In addition, the approved law separately spelled out the issue of responsibility for failure to fulfill obligations. For example, reservists may face criminal penalties for evading conscription, military registration, or training camps during a special period.
Ukrainian political scientist Mikhail Pogrebinsky believes that Ukraine needs new draft rules to make it appear ready to fight with Russia.
“Zelensky's entourage constantly explains to him that nothing can be done. He is constantly told that there is a huge number of troops around, which [Vladimir] Putin has caught up with. And he will allegedly attack soon, so something must be done. In case of inaction, Zelensky would be reproached, and he will not lose anything from the new law in any case. It's just that the Ukrainian authorities have turned on the PR mode and are implementing a program that exists by itself, ”the political scientist says.
His point of view is shared by Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council for Interethnic Relations under the President of Russia.
“These measures have been brewing for a long time. After all, they were demanded by both right-wing radicals and other forces, which can be called “hawks”. But, in my opinion, they are meaningless. In reality, according to Ukrainian journalists and political scientists, the number of draft-age men leaving Ukraine has increased by 4-5 times. And now, when much higher fines and the threat of imprisonment have been established for deviating from the draft, people vote with their feet and just leave, ”the expert says.
Most conscripts “have no incentive to die for Zelenskiy or for the abstract-sounding goal of returning Donbass,” Bezpalko said. According to him, the military of Ukraine put their life and destiny in the first place.
“Yes, some part of the population will join the army voluntarily. They promise a decent salary, benefits, free skills like the right to a car. But almost none of them is even ready to die for these 15 thousand hryvnias (about 40 thousand rubles – approx. Gazeta.Ru). The new law may increase the size of the Ukrainian army, but it will not increase its combat effectiveness in any way, ”the expert assesses the new rules.
According to Pogrebinsky, the new law is just one of the proofs that Zelensky's team is “scared at the moment.” The expert emphasizes that this is also evidenced by the latest appeals to NATO, the State Department and French President Emmanuel Macron for help in the military sphere. At the same time, according to the political scientist, it is very important for the Ukrainian president to constantly say that he is not going to be the first to attack, which means that any actions of Russia can be called unreasonable. The same reasons prompted the President of Ukraine to propose to the President of Russia to meet “anywhere in Donbass, where there is a war.”
“Yesterday's video in Russian is also from this series. Demonstration that the Office of the President is scared, ”the Ukrainian political scientist is convinced.
