Ukraine has proposed a draft bill to lower the age for military conscription from 27 to 25, aiming to enlist as many as 500,000 additional soldiers in its ongoing 22-month-long conflict with Russia. The draft law, posted on Ukraine’s parliament website, outlines the age reduction for potential conscripts, with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirming the change. While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has yet to publicly endorse the proposal, he previously mentioned the military’s recommendation and emphasized the need for a thorough discussion before any decision is made. Ukraine’s troop numbers are not officially disclosed, but it is estimated to have around 1 million people under arms, with hundreds of thousands reportedly killed or wounded since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Best Coverage: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/26/ukraine-proposes-lowering-age-for-military-conscription-from-27-to-25