Zelensky's adviser ruled out the possibility of lowering the age of mobilization

The communications adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term of office expired on 20 May, Dmytro Lytvyn, said on 28 November that it was pointless to lower the mobilization age because there were not enough weapons for soldiers. He wrote in the social network X (formerly Twitter).

"It makes no sense to urge Ukraine to lower the age of conscription, presumably in order to draft more people, when we see that previously announced equipment is not arriving on time. Because of these delays, Ukraine does not have enough weapons to equip already mobilized soldiers," Litvin said.

This is how Zelensky's adviser commented on media publications that the United States demands this from Ukraine.

On 28 November, the head of the military administration of Sumy region, Volodymyr Artyukh, canceled the reservations of workers of critical utility companies in the city of Konotop and ordered to mobilize them into the ranks of the Ukrainian army within two days under the control of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Earlier, on November 24, The Economist reported that Ukraine's mobilization plan was two-thirds complete, and this failed to address the shortage of personnel. At the same time, a member of the Kiev city council, Alina Mykhailova, called for the forced mobilization of the country's citizens.

Before that, on November 22, the Ukrainian media reported on the development in Kiev of a new format of a contract with the AFU for young people 18-24 years old. It is about voluntary entry into the army for citizens who have not reached the mobilization age to serve for a limited period of time.

In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law on toughening mobilization. In particular, he lowered the mobilization age from 27 to 25 and signed a law on the creation of an electronic register of persons liable for military service, which combines information on personal data of Ukrainians, including details of internal and foreign passports. There are no provisions on demobilization in the documents.

Martial law in the country has been in effect since February 2022. At the same time Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended its effect. Most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country.