Ukrainian combat vet Hudymenko analyzes proposed conscription reforms, praises 'correct' steps

War veteran Yuriy Hudymenko named the provisions in the new mobilization bill that he considers correct during an interview with Radio NV on Feb. 3.

The new document seems to him to be systemic, the soldier said.

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"There are a lot of provisions that cannot but be considered correct," Hudymenko said.

“For example, we can finally talk about penalties for draft dodgers. They will be similar, for example, to what happened to people who did not pay alimony. It used to be much more advantageous to be a draft dodger than to be a non-payer of alimony.”

The veteran also called the proposal to abolish conscription "very correct" and introduce basic military training for all men liable for military service, as well as for women if they wish.

Read also: New mobilization bill lacks troop rotation provisions – Defense Committee chair

The Ukrainian army has a problem with age, which significantly reduces its combat capability, and the reduction of the mobilization age from 27 to 25 years old proposed in the new bill is an attempt to overcome this problem.

"I don't think that a two-year reduction will somehow turn the tide, and I don't think we can talk about rejuvenating the army," Hudymenko said.

“But it will be possible to say that the aging process will be a little slower.”

The government registered a new version of the mobilization bill in the Verkhovna Rada on Jan. 30. It proposes, among other things, to introduce draft summonses through a conscript's electronic profile. Other innovations include lowering the conscription age to 25, setting the demobilization period at 36 months, introducing voluntary mobilization for convicts, restrictions on draft dodgers, and banning civil service without military training.

Deputy Chairman of the Rada's Defense Committee Yehor Chernev said on Jan. 31 that they still had questions about the mobilization bill, but that the second version was more workable.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine