The Parliament of Ukraine approves a controversial law to increase the mobilization capacity of the Armed Forces

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April 11 () –

The Parliament of Ukraine adopted this Thursday by a large majority a controversial bill that establishes new regulations on military mobilization and toughens certain requirements, with a view, among other things, to increasing the number of troops in the service of the Armed Forces.

The debate around this topic began already in 2023, with a first version of the text. Finally, and after the proposal of more than 4,000 amendments, the deputies have approved with 283 votes in favor a new text to which only the signature of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, remains, according to deputies.

The Government has pinned much of its declared interest on increasing military mobilization on this reform, although it remains to be seen how many people will be recruited now. Zelensky even said in December that the first version allowed the registration of up to half a million new troops, although the current head of the Armed Forces, Oleksander Sirski, declared at the end of March that the figure was now “significantly” lower.

Among the last minute changes is the withdrawal of a clause that established the demobilization of military personnel once they had completed three years of service, reports the UNIAN agency. These proposals can now be debated independently.