Ukraine’s defense minister says new version of draft mobilization law already prepared

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s defense minister said Thursday that his team has already prepared a new version of a draft mobilization law after a previous version was withdrawn by the country’s Cabinet of Ministers earlier in the day.

“Our team has already prepared a new version of the draft law, taking into account all the proposals agreed in the working order with the members of parliament at the meetings of the committee on national security, defense and intelligence,” Rustem Umerov said in a statement on Facebook.

Stressing that Ukrainian soldiers need “rotations and vacations” as well as an opportunity to recover from the ongoing conflict with Russia, Umerov said the draft law plans to establish a "clear term of military service."

He said they are ready to submit the new version of the draft mobilization law for government approval in the “near future,” indicating that work on the draft bill lasted for half a year.

“This law is necessary for the defense of our state and every soldier who is currently at the front. It needs to be approved as soon as possible,” he added.

Umerov also said that he and the country's military leadership listened to all warnings that were given during discussions and closed meetings after submitting the draft bill.

"Soldiers must have the opportunity to rest. That's fair. Warriors who were released from captivity must be given a choice as to whether to remain in the army. Those who choose to stay will need at least a few months of leave. That's fair,” he said.

He concluded by saying that it is “unacceptable in wartime” to politicize and stall issues related to mobilization, military registration and rotations, which he said are critically important for the state.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia said the Verkhovna Rada, or parliament of Ukraine, returned the draft mobilization bill to the government for revision.

On Dec. 25 last year, a bill was proposed to establish new rules on mobilization such as lowering the age of conscription from 27 to 25, sending out notifications about the necessity to report to the military in electronic form, and reducing exemptions from mobilization.