National Guard chief foresees surge in mobilization as Russian attacks increase

Colonel Oleksandr Pivnenko, commander of the National Guard, predicts a surge in mobilization and resistance if Russian forces intensify their offensive in Ukraine. In an April 23 interview with Liga.net, Pivnenko outlined potential targets for the Russian military, including Kharkiv, Sumy, and the Zaporizhzhya sector.

"Chasiv Yar is also an important story for them," Pivnenko said. "They will not forget about it. We know this."

Pivnenko noted that an escalation of military actions by Russia could spark greater volunteerism and a deeper understanding of the threat among Ukrainians. "This is how our society is organized: the more pressure is applied, the more we unite," he stated.

This commentary comes after the Ukrainian parliament passed the government's mobilization reform bill on April 11, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed into law on April 18. The law, effective from May 18, allows only certain groups to be mobilized voluntarily: those with disabilities, persons released from captivity, and individuals under 25 who have completed basic training or military service.

According to the document, the following groups of people are subject to mobilization only at will:

• persons with disabilities (for military service under a contract)

• persons released from captivity

• persons under the age of 25 who have completed basic general military training or basic military service.

Read also:

• Draft dodgers may lose driver’s licenses under new mobilization bill

• Kyiv suspends consulate services for draft-eligible Ukrainians abroad — report

Discharged conscripts are transferred to the mobilization reserve in accordance with the general rules (from the age of 25). Basic military service begins on Sept. 1, 2025.

Citizens who are registered with the military may voluntarily create a personal electronic account of a conscript, a person liable for military service, or a reservist.

Furthermore, the new legislation mandates all military-registered citizens to update their personal information, including addresses, contact numbers, email addresses, and other relevant details, within 60 days of the law’s implementation. Citizens can also voluntarily create personal electronic accounts for conscripts, those liable for military service, or reservists.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine