Ukrainians need to make sacrifices and forget about their peaceful lives, argued Ukrainian defence ministry spokesperson Dmitry Lazutkin on Saturday. Speaking in an interview with local channel Espresso TV, an internet television station in Ukraine on Saturday, the spokesperson said that to defeat Russia, the whole of Ukrainian society needed to be involved.
Speaking of the mobilisation law that the government has put in place, and which will come into effect by May 18, Lazutkin stated in the interview. “Globally speaking, starting on May 18, when the mobilization law comes into force, first of all, the approach to this war will change. This situation, when some people are fighting at the front lines, while others are living their quiet lives, is obviously coming to an end.”
The mobilisation law, which was recently passed by the Ukrainian Parliament, and signed into law by President Zelensky, has introduced changes in recruitment to boost the number of fighting men. These changes include lowering the draft age to 25, automating summons, and granting enlistment officers expanded powers while imposing various restrictions for draft dodgers. Additionally, the country’s Foreign Ministry has suspended consular services for military-eligible Ukrainians abroad ensuring that every able-bodied Ukrainian is eligible to serve.
Under this new legislation, fines for violations of military registration rules will increase up to $520, and Ukrainian authorities have warned of blocking bank accounts and imposing penalties on the property of those attempting to evade military service. Russian media reports have also claimed that there has been a notable increase in Ukrainian men attempting to flee the country. Border Service spokesperson Andrey Demchenko revealed that approximately 120-150 people are apprehended trying to leave Ukraine daily, with some tragically losing their lives in the attempt.
So far, Kyiv has been far from the fighting that has been happening in the east of the country, and President Zelensky’s law is likely to face resistance.
Lazutkin added in the interview that with “such an enemy, the whole country and the whole of society need to mobilise.” This follows a rising number of casualties on Kyiv’s side as Russia has gained the upper hand in the conflict. While President Zelensky stated in February this year that 36,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in February this year, a figure completely at odds with that of Moscow’s.
According to Russian estimates, Ukraine has been desperate to replace nearly half a million casualties since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said last week that Ukraine has lost more than 111,000 soldiers in 2024 alone.
(Reuters and other agencies)
