“To minimize the probability of military scenarios we need not only modern weapons but also a numerous, professional and motivated army. With that we could keep all the perimeter of the state border and potentially dangerous direction safe,” said Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov.
The new Decree of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi №36/2022 “On the first-priority measures towards strengthening the nation’s defense capabilities, the attractiveness of military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and gradual transition to professional army” aims to increase Ukraine's defense capabilities by increasing the number of servicemen, ensuring their financial support and implementation of a new system of training. In particular, the Decree contains instructions for gradual increase of the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the period of 2022-2025 by 100,000 personnel to increase the state’s defense capabilities. One of the reform elements is a transition to a system of intensive military training and departure from the military conscription from January 1, 2024.
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The current system of training suggests conscription of young people. “These people have different training, different motivation and different view on what place the army takes in their lives. To rebuff the enemy we need a professional army and a format of mobilization reserve training,” said Reznikov. The Decree introduces short-term (3-4 months) intensive military training as an alternative to conscription. Young people will receive basic military skills instead.
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“From January 1, 2024, we are planning to fully replace the conscription with the short-term intensive training by gradually increasing the number of involved people and maintaining their skills by periodic exercises and musters,” stated the Minister of Defense.
This Decree launches a set of reforms, and the drafts for necessary draft laws and bylaws are expected to appear shortly. “We hope the Parliament to be unanimous on these issues,” noted Oleksii Reznikov.
As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky had signed off a decree on Ukraine's transition toward a professional Army, increasing the number of servicemen by 100,000 over the next three years.
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