Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Dmytro Larin, Ukrainska Pravda

At one of the most recent meetings of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters, Ukrainian military officials offered to mobilise an extra 450–500,000 people; however, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that this issue is being worked on.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 19 December

Quote: “This is a question from our military, the chief of staff and the General Staff. They raised the issue of mobilisation at the meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The question is very sensitive, I think. They appealed for the protection of our state, potential counter-offensive actions and for a deficit [of people]. And they suggested mobilising an additional 450-500,000 people.”

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Quote: “I need details about people, because what will happen to the million-strong army of Ukraine − very powerful, I believe − what will happen to those guys who are there (at the front) every day, at least, what will happen to those who have been defending our state for two years? We have questions regarding rotation; there is a question of vacations; that is, there should be a comprehensive plan and in this mobilisation law you must provide answers to me – and society, first of all.”

Details: Zelenskyy said that the military began to work on this plan, but he “has not yet seen demobilisation taking place there,” although he considers it the number one issue.

Quote: “The question is not how this process is called under the law, the main thing is that this process is fair to our powerful warriors. It is very difficult for them there, I have been there many times. I would very much like our military leadership to understand these challenges. We cannot lose the most courageous ones, we must also find [to get] the mobilisation processes [going]. They should contain specificity and great respect for the warriors. There should be issues of business trips, vacations, the possibility of moving from one place to another. All requests that the military has must find a response from the military leadership.”

According to him, the military addressed the Ministry of Defence to involve the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov regarding the digitalisation of some processes, “because there are people both in Ukraine and abroad, this is a very difficult process.”

“For me it is very important: if it’s 440,000 more, then who deserves the right to rest? And this is a very important point, without this it does not work,” the President said.

According to him, the military should prepare a comprehensive plan at the Headquarters, and then they should communicate on this issue in the Verkhovna Rada, which should approve the relevant changes to the legislation.

Quote: “We cannot lose stability, potential, but we need justice. And as for the funds − mobilisation in this format will cost Ukraine an additional UAH 500 billion [approx. US$13,400 million – ed.]. Therefore, as the President of Ukraine, as a person who spends a lot of time to find financial support, I would like to hear from the Minister of Finance where the money will come from.”  

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