The MP explained when demobilization might be announced

The MP explained when demobilization might be announced

There is currently no possibility to discharge servicemen who have been on the front line since 2022 or even since 2014, noted MP Fedir Venislavskyi. According to him, only rotation is possible at present.

The Ukrainian command and the Ministry of Defence are looking for ways to increase the duration of rest during the rotation of servicemen from combat zones. However, the situation on the front and in the world has changed, complicating the implementation of this idea. About possible demobilization and discharge from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Member of Parliament and member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Fedir Venislavskyi talked about it in an interview with NV media.

Answering a question about the demobilization bill, Venislavskyi primarily focused on the rotation of servicemen. According to the MP, politicians regularly discuss this topic in closed sessions of the General Staff, as it is necessary to ensure the possibility of extended rest for the Defence Forces’ fighters. He mentioned "a few months." However, there are two problems that make such an extended rest impossible — the deteriorating situation on the front due to the Russian offensive and changes in the foreign policy situation related to Donald Trump being elected as the 47th president of the United States. Then the MP returned to the topic of demobilization and noted that in the current conditions, politicians who proposed the bill act to the detriment of state security, as discharge from the army during a war is impossible.

"In my opinion, this was done either from a misunderstanding of the consequences of such statements and actions or it was a conscious malicious intent. But during a full-scale war, promising mass discharges from military service does not correspond to national security and defence interests," he noted.

He then summarized that there will be no discharges from the army shortly. This is impossible even considering the increase in the number of mobilized and volunteers, the politician emphasized.

"I don’t believe that in the near future we have grounds to expect a law that would provide for the mass discharge of servicemen from military service. Unfortunately, we cannot replace people who have been serving for years," Venislavskyi stated.

The interview also raised the issue of unauthorized abandonment of the unit (AWOL). The MP noted that the actual number of army deserters is less than 100,000. The exact figure was provided by the command, but he cannot disclose it. The politician also noted that the data on the number of opened criminal cases (over 90,000) does not reflect that a significant portion of people have already returned to their units.