Volunteer contract fighters aged 18-24 to help rotate troops at frontline – Ministry of Defense
Contract soldiers aged 18 to 24 will make it possible to rotate Ukrainian soldiers who are tired of combat operations.
This was stated on television by the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense Dmytro Lazutkin, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
He also reminded that contract soldiers aged 18-24 will serve exclusively in units on the contact line and in the most risky combat positions.
These are clearly defined combat positions where people are most at risk on the front line. These are the following positions: rifleman, senior rifleman, sniper, medic, assistant grenade launcher, grenade launcher, senior grenade launcher, scout and senior scout," said Lazutkin.
The defense ministry spokesperson denied claims that the high financial incentives provided by the 18-24 Contract are unfair.
Lazutkin reminded that the contract also applies to Ukrainians under the age of 25 who previously joined the army.
"Those servicemen who have been serving for a long time were outraged by this situation and saw it as injustice. They said that people of this age group were not subject to mobilization and would not have joined the Defense Forces under other conditions. I would like to remind you that the UAH 1 million remuneration is also provided for those soldiers, privates, sergeants and non-commissioned officers who joined the army at the age of 25 before the relevant government resolution came into force. That is, they equated people who have been serving for a long time and who have now signed a contract. And in this matter, justice has been done," he explained.
According to him, combat brigades at the front are waiting for contract soldiers aged 18-24, as this will finally allow them to rotate soldiers tired of combat.
"I have talked to representatives of the units and brigades where the people who are now signing the contract will serve. And these are our famous brigades: 95, 92, 10, 28, 38, 72. And everywhere they said that these guys are very much needed, that these contract soldiers will allow for more frequent rotations of those fighting in the trenches on the front line. They will be accepted as our own and adapted to the team as much as possible. By the way, 14 days are allotted for adaptation in the brigade after the basic professional training. And the people who will receive them in the brigade - the commanders - will observe these contract soldiers during their training. So the integration process is well thought out, and the brigades are waiting for them. There is no indignation at the injustice in these brigades, because this is real help from people who will be motivated and well trained," said Lazutkin.
He added that the terms of the contract with volunteers aged 18-24 include 45 days of basic training, 14 days of professional training and 14 days of adaptation in the brigade.
As a reminder, on February 11, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine officially launched the Contract 18-24 voluntary service format for Ukrainians who are ready to join the Defense Forces for one year.
The Ministry emphasized that joining the Defense Forces under this project is not mobilization, but a voluntary choice.
