Sufficient to fill the Armed Forces of Ukraine: how many Ukrainians can be mobilized under the "Contract 18-24" initiative?

Citizens under the age of 24 can enlist in the Ukrainian military under a one-year contract with a one-time payment of one million hryvnias. Over 10,000 people have already submitted applications. Pavel Palisa, the Deputy Head of the President's Office, stated in an interview with TSN on February 19 that this is a "fairly good result" within just a few days.

Mobilization in Ukraine: How Many Citizens Can Sign the "Contract 18-24"

He explained that this is only the first stage of changes in the military. Currently, only six brigades are involved in the pilot project to test it "in each direction and in every brigade." According to Palisa, working with this number of units will make it easier to identify and correct mistakes.

"Overall, the target audience aged 18 to 24 is almost 800,000 people," he reported.

The Deputy Head of the President's Office confirmed that this number is "more than enough" to fill the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, he noted that this does not mean that young Ukrainians are intended to fill all vacant positions in the military.

"This contract provides an opportunity for individuals who are not subject to mobilization to voluntarily join the Armed Forces," the official emphasized.

It is difficult to predict how many Ukrainians aged 18-24 will actually sign contracts, the President's Office stated.

Mobilization in Ukraine: What Other Contracts May Appear in the Armed Forces

Palisa mentioned that efforts are currently underway in Ukraine to expand the target audience for signing contracts with the military.

"First and foremost, the next contract will be for those citizens who have resigned and had the legal right to do so before the mobilization law was enacted, who are entitled to deferment, and who are even reserved. The goal is to create a competitive employer image for the Armed Forces in the Ukrainian labor market," he informed.

The Deputy Head of the President's Office clarified that Ukrainians will be offered a wider selection of military specialties. This may include roles such as drone operators, mechanics-drivers, and crew members of combat vehicles. He did not rule out the possibility that these servicemen might also receive one million as part of the contract.

"When it comes to the very existence of the state, I believe that the issue of resources should not be the top priority (...) This is a critical question of the country's defense capability. I believe there can be no compromises here," the official stated.

He added that a contract for those mobilized is also being developed.

Recall that the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Dmitry Lazutkin, explained who among Ukrainians might be denied signing the "Contract 18-24".

He also clarified whether mobilization would pose a threat to young Ukrainians after their contracts expire. New recruits will receive their million hryvnias in installments.