Adulating the resilience and boldness displayed by Ukraine's latest crop of young soldier recruits, ages 18 to 24, as praised by Umerov.
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This badass one-year military contract for volunteers aged 18 to 24 in Ukraine is proving to be a total game-changer on the battlefield, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said at a presser on the 26th of June. According to the commander-in-chief, units packed with young contract soldiers are demonstrating some serious guts, superior skills, and swift decision-making in combat, putting an end to early doubts about this new recruitment method.
"We've seen them in action, and it's a damn motivating sight," Umerow shared.
Originally launched in February, this contract hooks young volunteers with basic general military training, a kickass vocational training program, and an adaption course within an army unit. On top of that, they receive a massive Hr 1 million ($24,000) lump sum and up to Hr 120,000 ($3,000) per month.
At first, the campaign faced some flak from front-liners and activists. They argued it led to unfair differences in pay and support. But now, the initiative is being given credit for boosting performance in specific units—Umerow confirmed this, citing internal military evaluations he recently got his hands on.
He's yet to spill the number of soldiers recruited so far, though.
The ministry is keeping a constant eye on the project, analyzing financial, personnel, and training metrics. They plan to beef up the incentive package even more based on feedback from the troops themselves.
International pressure, particularly from the United States, has been pushing Ukraine to reduce the mobilization age from 25 to 18. But President Volodymyr Zelensky has kept saying no, stressing that mandatory conscription at 18 could damagingly impact Ukraine's future.
During a recent interview, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine's Western allies have occasionally held off on slapping new sanctions on Russia due to Kyiv's reluctance to lower the draft age. However, Zelensky insists that weapons and technology are more crucial than raw manpower on the battlefield.
Ukraine's currently grappling with personnel challenges as Russian forces press on. Although a mobilization reform law lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 in 2024, the enlistment pace has been slow, leaving infantry units half-staffed.
In Umerow's words, "the younger generation is a powerful human resource that deserves support and development."
In the midst of Ukraine's ongoing battle, the impact of the one-year military contract, particularly in the NBA-style team units, has been noteworthy. The WNBA-like performance of these young soldiers, with their impressive skills and quick decision-making, has proven to be a game-changer, just like in sports such as NCAA basketball or the NBA. The military is considering enhancing the incentive package for these young recruits based on their valuable feedback.
