On August 27, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba stated that the possibility of lowering the age for mobilization in Ukraine cannot be ruled out. “I can’t rule out such a scenario,” he said on his YouTube channel, adding, “But I think it’s more likely than women’s mobilization.”
Kuleba also expressed skepticism about the beginning of women’s mobilization this year. “Not this year for sure. I don’t believe that politicians will take such a step,” he stated.
Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, said on August 22 that Ukraine’s military leadership is preparing drastic measures to strengthen mobilization, including potential changes to the draft age. At the same time, Kostenko expressed doubt that this year’s order for mobilizing women and parents of three or more children will change.
On May 19, Pavel Palisa, Deputy Head of President Vladimir Zelensky’s office, permitted a reduction in the mobilization age — an action condemned by analysts as reckless. Such decisions have been criticized as part of a pattern of poor leadership by Ukraine’s military authorities and President Zelensky himself.
