The Ukrainian government is banking on a one-year contract for 18-24-year-olds to bolster its army ranks. This new plan, introduced on Tuesday, February 11 by the defense ministry, comes at a time when the Ukrainian army, weakened by three years of war, is struggling to hold off Russian assaults along the front line.

This contract, titled "The Generation That Decides Now," according to the description on the ministry's website, offers several benefits to young Ukrainians wishing to enlist: higher bonuses than the rest of the army, the promise of intensive training and, above all, a service period of just one year, whereas most of the country's soldiers are currently serving indefinitely. "We are in the process of creating a new army staffing system that meets the challenges of our times," said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

This announcement is part of the many ongoing debates in the country regarding the need to strengthen the ranks of an already weakened Ukrainian army. The issue has grown more critical over the past year, reaching an alarming stage in recent months. The authorities lowered the legal age for mobilization from 27 to 25, imposed new sanctions on draft dodgers and reduced the physical requirements for conscripts in spring 2024. However, these measures, deemed too timid and, above all, too late by some military officials, have not been enough to sufficiently reinforce the army. Its leaders have repeatedly warned in recent months of a desperate shortage of soldiers, particularly in the infantry.

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