Ukrainians are expressing outrage over a recent suggestion from the United States to lower the conscription age from 25 to 18, amid the ongoing war with Russia. This proposal follows increasing violence, as opposition fighters advance against government forces.
In a commentary on the suggestion, 20-year-old Vladislav, who volunteered for the Ukrainian army two years ago and suffered serious injuries, described lowering the conscription age as a “bad idea.” He shared his experience with Al Jazeera, saying, “It was scary, scary, scary,” and acknowledged his struggles with trauma from combat. While Vladislav legally volunteered at 18, he opposes mandatory enlistment for teenagers.
A senior White House official recently urged Kyiv to lower the conscription age to address manpower shortages in Donbas, where Russian forces have intensified their offensive on key strongholds. The official stated, “The need right now is manpower,” emphasizing that more recruits could make a significant difference on the battlefield.
However, Ukrainian military leaders have not discussed the idea. A source from Ukraine’s General Staff asserted, “No discussions regarding lowering the conscription age have occurred.”
In response to the US suggestion, Dmitry Litvin, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, criticized the notion, stating that it makes little sense to call for increased mobilization when promised military support from the West is delayed. He expressed frustration over the lack of timely equipment deliveries, saying, “Because of these delays, Ukraine lacks weapons to equip already mobilized soldiers.”
Some citizens echo Litvin’s concerns. “How about they give us more arms without any delays?” asked Oleksiy Surovchenko, a 64-year-old former police officer. He expressed anger at perceived US indecision and inaction, claiming, “America got us into this mess, and now we’re paying for their indecisiveness.”
Historically, Ukraine’s military has struggled due to previous decisions to dismantle its stockpiles of Soviet-era weaponry in the 1990s and 2000s. After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported separatist movements in Donbas, the perception of Russia as an aggressor changed among Ukrainians.
Seventeen-year-old Serhiy voiced his opposition to lowering the conscription age, declaring, “I would choose to be shot to death right here in Kyiv instead of going to the frontline.” He emphasized a cultural perspective, referencing the customs of Cossacks, who historically did not allow men without heirs to fight. “Our forefathers didn’t allow a man who had no children to go to war,” he added.
Ukraine’s population has dwindled significantly since the Soviet collapse, with millions now displaced or residing in occupied territories. The birth rate in Ukraine is among the lowest in Europe, further complicating military recruitment efforts.
Serhiy’s mother, Neela, also opposes the idea of lowering the conscription age, arguing that younger individuals lack the maturity necessary for battle. “They don’t yet have a feeling of self-preservation; they are just flying into battle,” she told Al Jazeera. “This will be the destruction of the Ukrainian people.”
Military experts perceive the US proposal as a form of blackmail, suggesting it undermines the urgency and seriousness of supplying necessary military aid. Ivan Tymochko, head of the Council of Reservists of the Ground Forces, stated, “This is some sort of justification not to provide further military aid.”
In April, President Zelenskyy signed a law lowering the fighting age from 27 to 25 after extensive deliberation. Since then, conscription patrols have aggressively recruited men of fighting age amid accusations of abuse and corruption.
Following the US announcement, Russian military officials declared they had trained 300,000 reservists to be deployed to the fronts in Ukraine, intensifying the urgency surrounding the conflict. Russian Colonel General Ivan Buvaltsev stated these troops have been trained under conditions similar to Ukraine’s terrain.
Credit: Aljazeera
