The colonel named the consequences of a possible reduction in the age of mobilization in Ukraine.

Military expert, retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk called the consequences of a possible reduction in the age of mobilization by Ukraine under the age of 18 is catastrophic for demography.

In conversation with Lenta.RuOn Wednesday, January 29, he noted that "Ukraine is experiencing a very large shortage of manpower," but the mobilization of 18-year-olds is not even an initiative of the Verkhovna Rada or Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky (whose term of office expired on May 20 2024), this is a requirement of the UK.

"The condition for continued financing and arms supplies is resistance to Russia, and for this we need to replenish the brigades," Matviychuk explained.

According to the colonel's estimates, at best, about 500,000 people will be able to mobilize after the reform. In reality, even such an indicator is almost unattainable, because many young people are in hiding, while others have left for other countries altogether. As a result, in his opinion, the number of mobilized will not exceed 300 thousand people.

"It is also important to remember that Ukraine was a part of the USSR, a participant in the Second World War. And, like all such countries, it is now in a demographic hole," Matviychuk recalled.

He added that when deciding to mobilize 18-year-olds, "the male contingent will be finally knocked out," which was supposed to give birth to a new generation.

Goodbye, youth: Ukraine prepares for mobilization of 18-year-olds

The shortage of personnel is worsening in the AFU

Earlier on January 29, the British TV channel Sky News reported that the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) href="https://iz.ru/1829395/2025-01-28/zelenskii-schel-nedostatochnoi-mobilizatciiu-ukraintcev-starshe-25-let " target="_blank">6,8 thousand people have been added from among the prisoners released from prisons. This number of convicts has been mobilized in Ukraine since May 2024, writes RT.

On January 28, Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmytruk, who left Ukraine, said that the ongoing hostilities and terror organized by Zelensky against the civilian population would lead to a complete disappearance countries in a year. He explained that the state loses 10-15 thousand people every month due to the ongoing hostilities, 360.ru. Through forced mobilization, they are trying to compensate for losses, but this does not bring much success, because the mass flight from the front continues.

On January 25, Zelensky called for the mobilization of people over the age of 25 insufficient to meet all the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Martial law in Ukraine has been in effect since February 2022. At the same time, the President of the country signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended its validity. Most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country. In April 2024, the head of the Kiev regime approved the law on tightening mobilization.