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Military wants half a million more men mobilized — Zelensky

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claims that such a mobilization would cost Ukraine an additional about $13.4 billion

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. The military has asked Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to mobilize an additional 450,000 to 500,000 people.

"They (the military - TASS) have suggested mobilizing an additional 450,000 to 500,000 people," Zelensky told a news conference.

Zelensky claims that such a mobilization would cost Ukraine an additional 500 billion hryvnias (about $13.4 billion at the current exchange rate). "I would like an understanding from the prime minister [of Ukraine Denis Shmygal] and from the finance minister [Segey Marchenko]: where will the money come from?" the president asked.

General mobilization has been repeatedly announced and extended in Ukraine since February 2022, with the country's authorities doing everything possible to prevent men of draft age from dodging military service. In particular, they are banned from traveling abroad, and draft notices are handed out at state institutions, in the streets or at public gathering places. According to the Ukrainian media, a large number of men literally stay home for months to avoid being sent to the war zone.

Mobilization has already led to numerous scandals. The media publish stories on a regular basis about military officers using force against citizens while handing them call-up papers, about people unfit for service due to health reasons falling under mobilization, as well as about MPs and officials evading it and moving their sons of draft age abroad. On August 23, Zelensky said that the military had asked him to step up mobilization efforts.

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Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky

Military operation in Ukraine

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