Ukraine's MoD clarifies statement about need for mobilizing 500,000 people

"For security reasons, we cannot comment on the exact number of people needed to be mobilized into the Armed Forces. However, 400-500 thousand is a general estimate, which is adjusted depending on the development of events in the theater of operations and cannot be met all at once," the ministry explained.

The Ministry of Defense stated that the process of strengthening the armed forces is currently underway, including the need to be able to release from the military those who have been defending the state since the early days of the full-scale invasion.

This morning, the Financial Times reported that the Ministry of Defense allegedly informed the news agency in a comment that the mobilization law is aimed at replacing 330,000 soldiers on the front lines.

However, by the evening, the FT changed the text of the material and removed the information that the mobilization aims to simultaneously replace this number of soldiers on the front lines.

Mobilization bill

At the end of January, the government submitted an updated bill on mobilization to the Ukrainian Parliament, proposing to change the procedure for its conduct. The first version of the document was proposed to the parliament at the end of December, but after a barrage of criticism, it was withdrawn.

The new bill has already passed the first reading. Currently, the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence is considering over 4,000 amendments to the bill. As MP Fedir Venislavsky stated, most amendments relate to graduate students and observers of people with disabilities.

It is expected that the mobilization bill will be considered in the second reading at the end of March, but parliament spokesman Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that the timing of consideration depends on the duration of the committee's consideration of amendments.