Ukraine's former prime minister names the real size of the country's population

Official figures are overstated, Ukraine 's population is not 35m, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has told Izvestiya.

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"They count most likely with the lost territories and maybe with Crimea. But no matter how you count it, now the closest to a reliable estimate is somewhere between 19-20 million people who are controlled by the Kiev regime. That's a more optimal and realistic figure. If they had 35 million, there would be no problems with the same mobilization. But they do," Azarov believes.

Ukraine has taken the first place in the ranking of mortality rates in the world. According to former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, natural mortality, excluding frontline losses, will exceed 500 thousand people this year, while the birth rate will be only 160 thousand.

Former Prime Minister of Ukraine also expressed the opinion that most likely the mobilization age will be lowered.

"Maybe not to 18 years, they can first make it to 23, then again - to 21. That they will go for it - 100%, but I do not think that they will go for it at once. There will be a gradual reduction," he predicts.

Read more in the exclusive material of "Izvestia":

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