Biden Administration Urges Ukraine to Lower Draft Age to 18 for 3.7 Million Potential Recruits

Nov 27, 2024, 05:00 PM

The Biden administration is urging Ukraine to lower the draft age for military service from 25 to 18 years old to bolster its ranks amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. This recommendation comes as Ukraine faces challenges in meeting its manpower needs, with reports indicating that the country could potentially mobilize another 3.7 million individuals. A senior U.S. official cited insufficient mobilization and training for the war with Russia as reasons for this change. The push to lower the age limit is part of a broader strategy to slow the pace of the Russian military advance and seize the initiative, especially in light of potential changes in U.S. policy under a new administration.