End of mobilization: How will the Armed Forces change after switching to contract service

"I am so a little even a soot, this is the first stage from such a larger program where it will be about the possibility of signing the contract already mobilized citizens of Ukraine with clear terms and also appropriate financial bonuses," Pavel Palis said. Oleksandr Musienko, the head of the Military Legal Research Center, told Focus that the President, OP, the General Staff and the Cabinet are developing initiatives to improve the conditions of service, recruitment and mobilization.

"Now, firstly, a very good package and an initiative for contract service will be offered to citizens from 18 to 24 years old. And this is a very important tool because we are not talking about a decline in mobilization age. And we are talking about encouraging young people which are ready to serve when signing a contract, receiving payments, benefits, etc. for it, "said Alexander Musienko. According to him, the voluntary contract has some advantages that are prescribed in the document.

Moreover, a contract service with a clear time can be a motivating factor for citizens. The military expert, the Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleg Zhdanov, is convinced that it is really to give up mobilization in order to have a contract service. However, the question of motivating people. "It is possible to create conditions that will be queues to sign a contract.

By the way, last year the Russian Federation took the appropriate steps and in them indeed on signing of contracts were queues in military enlistment offices, small, but there were," - explained Focus Oleg Zhdanov. He noted that the contract service, the professional army is a much more effective tool than "bellies", which leads to a large percentage of CHF cases. "The contract is signed on a voluntary basis.

The motivation that the state will create, as far as it will meet the requests, including the social, financial and needs of society. Then it will be a voluntary army on a permanent basis. When asked when Ukraine can give up mobilization and a contract service will appear, Musienko noted that it is difficult for him to say. As these decisions are being developed now, all details are agreed so that the new initiative does not lead to a decrease in defense, but only to increase it.

In turn, Zhdanov stressed that the process of transition to contract service can take up to half a year or more. It will depend on the state how capable and ready to transfer the mobilized army to a professional one and is ready. Oleksandr Musienko is convinced that when it comes to the survival of Ukrainians, which depends on the army, defense capability, the money should be found thanks to internal resources, helping partners.

He recalled that partners proposed to reduce the mobilization age to increase the number of Armed Forces, but Ukraine disagrees it. Instead, according to Musienko, the state offers "better and more favorable conditions". "During the preparation of this decision, there will be a clear calculation of the funds to be found and put into the budget," he added.

According to Zhdanov, Ukraine will have money for financial bonuses for the military, if it stops "engaged in the construction of roads, nuclear power plants". We will remind, on February 11 in the Ministry of Defense told about the project "Contract 18-24" to involve people in the army. According to the terms, young people will receive a one -year contract, high financial support, social benefits.