Ukraine's parliament has decided to cancel the proposed rotation plan for soldiers who have been serving extended periods on the frontlines. The draft law aimed at increasing the number of soldiers in the military faced intense debate among Ukrainian lawmakers.
The initial plan allowed soldiers serving over 36 months to demobilize and return home, but this provision was removed following input from Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. The draft law, which passed with 283 votes in favor, includes various measures to strengthen Ukraine's military.
The legislation also mandates the government to introduce new laws to enhance the rotation of military personnel under martial law, indicating that the demobilization issue remains active. Ukraine is not only facing manpower shortages but also ammunition deficits.
General Chris Cavoli of US European Command highlighted that Russian artillery fire significantly surpasses Ukrainian artillery usage, posing a severe challenge for Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Recent heavy Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have caused widespread power outages in various regions, including the destruction of the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant. The attacks have left over 200,000 people without electricity in Kharkiv and other regions.
Protests erupted outside Ukraine's parliament as wives and relatives of servicemen demanded demobilization deadlines be reinstated. Anastasia Bulba, whose husband serves in the military, expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding soldiers' return to their families.
Former military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi emphasized the urgent need to bolster Ukraine's armed forces to counter the enemy's mobilization advantage. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urged to increase troop numbers, with discussions on recruitment fairness and defense capabilities ongoing.
Zelensky recently signed a law lowering Ukraine's minimum conscription age, underscoring the government's efforts to strengthen military recruitment. The fate of the draft law passed by the parliament awaits presidential approval, signaling ongoing deliberations on military strategy and personnel management.
