Ukraine is looking for ways to attract volunteers to the army

Ukrainian authorities are looking for new ways to attract volunteers into the army to fight Russian aggression. Candidates are asked to choose specific units and roles that match their skills, and most importantly, the length of service, writes Reuters.

Billboards with images of soldiers have appeared on the streets of Ukrainian cities, calling on citizens to unite and defend their homeland. For the convenience of volunteers, all the necessary information can be found thanks to the QR code posted there.

“The people who now come to defend our country are not those who chose a military career, but civilians. But civilians are used to having the opportunity to choose,” said Deputy Defense Minister Natalya Kalmykova.

The Ukrainian government faced difficulties during the conscription campaign. Thousands of citizens of the country evade military service, and some flee conscription abroad, the agency notes. Ukrainian authorities intend to change the situation. To this end, thirteen new recruiting centers have been opened in the country since mid-February. By the middle of the year, they plan to increase their number to 30, said Alexey Bezhevets, adviser to the Ministry of Defense in charge of this work.

According to Bezhevets, about 300 people visited the center in Lviv in the first month. However, he did not say how many of them signed up to volunteer. In addition, he noted that the Department of Defense is also working with four private recruiting companies to recruit volunteers.

“The main goal is to give people the opportunity to overcome their fears and join the military sphere,” says Bezhevets.

According to a February survey by Kiev-based research agency Info Sapiens, common concerns about military service include insufficient training, bad leaders and a lack of limits on how long one can serve. Of the 400 men surveyed, only 35% said they were ready to serve if called up.

“At some stage trust was lost. Now our task is to restore it,” said Bezhevets.

In May, a new law on mobilization will come into force in Ukraine, which has caused indignation among Ukrainian military personnel. In particular, they are unhappy that the document does not contain a clause on demobilization and maximum service life.

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