MOSCOW, December 19. The General Staff of Ukraine asked to mobilize another half a million people, Vladimir Zelensky said at a press conference.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the military wants to replenish the army with 450-500 thousand new troops.
“»I told me that we need more arguments to support this decision,” Zelensky said.
He also noted that mobilization of such a scale would cost the republic’s budget 500 billion hryvnia ($13 billion).
Zelensky also addressed to Prime Minister Denis Shmygal and the government as a whole with the question: “Where does the money come from?” and announced financial difficulties with mobilization, noting that the taxes of six taxpayers allegedly go to support one serviceman.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had lost 383 thousand military personnel since the beginning of the special military operation. The summer counteroffensive cost Kyiv 159 thousand killed and wounded soldiers, he specified.
In Ukraine, a martial law regime and a decree on general mobilization have been in effect since February 2022. Men aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine. Evasion from military service is a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.
The summons can be served in different places. Many videos have appeared of how this is done on the streets, at gas stations and in cafes: men are twisted and forcibly taken to military registration and enlistment offices. A representative of the military registration and enlistment office does not have to hand over the summons; this can also be done by the managers of the enterprise where the conscript works, the heads of the housing office, representatives of the house committee and other officials.