Ukrainian military offers to mobilise additional 500,000 people

The President of Ukraine has said that the military have offered to mobilise an additional 450,000-500,000 people for the war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he will not sign the law on the mobilisation of women if it is adopted, but he could agree to reduce the military age to 25 years.

He said, “These are still questions from our military, the commander-in-Chief, the General Staff, they addressed the issue of mobilization at the level of our headquarters.

“The issue is very sensitive, I think.

“They appealed regarding the protection of our country and potential counter-offensive actions, regarding the deficit.

“Their view was presented at a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters, they proposed to mobilize an additional 450,000-500,000 people.

The President stressed that this is a “very serious figure,” he added, “I said that I need more arguments to support this direction.”

Zelensky said that the mobilisation will cost, adding, “As for finances, between us, mobilisation in this format will cost Ukraine an additional UAH 500 billion.”

He said at a press conference on Wednesday, “And that’s why I, as the President of Ukraine, as a person who gives a lot of his time to find some kind of financial support for Ukraine.”

He insisted that he wants to have an understanding on this issue from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.

Regarding mobilising women into the armed forces Zelensky said, “No women, I won’t sign it.

“As for the 25-year-olds, if all the arguments are set out, today I see that they need it, then I will agree with that.”