Zelenskyy: Ukraine's mobilization on track, but training sites needed
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Mobilization in Ukraine is ongoing according to the military's plan. However, there are not enough training sites within the country for the conscripts, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference.
The president was asked to assess the progress of the two-month campaign after the new law on mobilization and training came into force.
"The military says that everything is going according to their plan. As for training grounds, there are not enough of them. Whether they can be expanded - they are already being expanded. Whether it is possible to expand the base abroad - yes, it is possible," Zelenskyy said.
He adds that the expansion of training bases is one of the points of the bilateral agreement on security cooperation with Poland.
Mobilization in Ukraine
The level of mobilization in May and June more than doubled compared to the previous two months, Reuters reports. According to Defense Ministry spokesman Bohdan Senyk, positive trends are emerging. The average age of the mobilized remains the same and is about 40 years old.
Answering the question about 200,000 additional soldiers, previously voiced in the Western press, Roman Kostenko, secretary of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, estimated that this number could be recruited by the end of the year if the process continues at the current pace. This may allow parliament to consider a bill on partial demobilization in the future.
According to the Khortytsia operational and strategic group of troops, the Armed Forces lack infantrymen the most. Hence, a recruitment campaign for riflemen, drivers, etc. is underway.
