“We need about 100,000 just to plug the holes. Another 100,000 for reserve. And about 150,000 for demobilization,” says Lieutenant 47 Mechanized Brigade Melnyk.
Demobilization is impossible without a reserve and with a war like this, said Pavlo Petrichenko, a soldier of the 59th brigade. Lieutenant of the 47th brigade Mykola Melnyk noted that the state “lost greatly” from the new mobilization law due to promises of demobilization, which were eventually abandoned.
The military spoke about this for an extensive LIGA.net text about the law adopted by parliament.
According to Petrichenko, without a reserve and with such a war, demobilization is impossible, and the story about 36 months of service for demobilization is populism.
“But people need to be pulled out of the trenches and transferred to quieter positions. And also the upper draft age limit should be lowered - men over 55 years old should be released from the army,” he noted.
According to the military man, this will reduce tension in society.
Melnyk said that the state “lost greatly” from the new mobilization law.
“Yes, we need to mobilize people to demobilize those who are currently fighting. But the soldiers will perceive the promises of demobilization, and then the refusal of it, as an element of injustice,” the military man explained.
In his opinion, the authorities should either not start talking about demobilization, or clearly say when they will happen.
“Our de facto brigades are, at best, 40% staffed. We need about 100,000 just to plug the holes. Another 100,000 for reserve. And about 150,000 for demobilization,” he summed up.