Venislavskyi: In the coming months, there will be no mass demobilization in Ukraine

Venislavskyi: In the coming months, there will be no mass demobilization in Ukraine

A large-scale demobilization in the next three months is unlikely. The issue of mechanisms for the discharge of military personnel is constantly discussed at the parliamentary level with representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This was reported by Verkhovna Rada deputy, member of the national security, defence and intelligence committee Fedir Venislavskyi. In particular, he answered a question about the Ministry of Defence’s statement that a draft law on demobilization has already been prepared, but it will take another three months to develop mechanisms for replacing the large number of people subject to demobilization.

According to the MP, issues regarding these mechanisms are constantly debated at the parliamentary level with representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the command of the Armed Forces.

"Work is already being done on auditing the effectiveness of the use of military units and the number of personnel of the Armed Forces, as well as in the security and defence sector as a whole," said Venislavskyi.

He added that, according to open information, the current number of Armed Forces personnel is about one million people.

Directly involved in combat now are "approximately several hundred thousand people on the front line."

"Therefore, it is primarily about the possibilities of engaging those units that are in the rear, or an audit of how effectively they are used. It is also about improving recruitment mechanisms," the deputy reported.

According to Venislavskyi, two committee meetings were held last week with the participation of leadership from combat brigades.

Parliamentarians discussed with the military the possibilities of increasing the number of mobilized and recruited personnel, as well as the return of those who left their unit on their own (AWOL).

"Different options are being developed. To say that there are specific solutions—one, two, three, four—and this will solve the problem of demobilization, I cannot. Moreover, I believe it is unlikely to expect a massive discharge from military service within the next three months," said Venislavskyi.

He also did not rule out that in three months, the demobilization bill will be prepared by the Ministry of Defence, initiated by the government, and submitted to the Rada. However, the likelihood of its adoption is "another question entirely."

"As a rule, after the initiation of bills that may weaken our defence capability, very complex discussions take place at both the Ministry of Defence, the command of the Armed Forces level, and with leaders of various political forces, factions. Then a decision is made on how to vote in parliament," the MP emphasized.