No Additional Plans for Mobilization in Ukraine – Deputy Defense Minister

On Nov. 9, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported that the defense ministry has no plans to introduce additional mobilization in Ukraine, dependent on further developments on the front.

Commenting on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent decision to extend martial law and mobilization in Ukraine for a further 90 days, Malyar noted that sufficient people have already been mobilized.

However, she added: “We should all be aware that a war is going on in the country. We can assume different scenarios and should be prepared for the development of all these scenarios.”

On Nov. 8, Zelensky registered a draft bill to extend martial law and mobilization up to Feb. 19, 2023. The Ukrainian parliament is set to read the bill in the next session.

According to lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, it is highly probable that martial law and mobilization will be extended again for 90 days.

In late October, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said that the third mobilization wave was on track and there was no need for additional recruitment. According to Danilov, the supreme commander-in-chief’s staff regularly considers the issue at its meetings.

Periods of martial law during the full-scale invasion

On Feb. 24, Zelensky declared martial law and general mobilization following Russian troops’ full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since then, parliament has already extended martial law four times: in March and April for one month, and in May and August for three months (the current wave is due to expire on Nov. 21).

Other Topics of Interest

Poland Scrambles Jets During Russia’s Missile Attack on Ukraine

These measures were "aimed at [ensuring] security in the areas adjacent to the threatened zones," said Poland’s Operational Command.

Martial law also imposes a ban on travel abroad by Ukrainian men aged 18-60, with a limited number of exceptions. On Aug. 16, the president responded to a petition calling for the travel ban to be lifted, saying that this would only happen after the end of martial law.

In July, Ukrainian defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov confirmed that Ukraine is being defended by one million servicemen: 700,000 military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU); 90,000 servicemen of the National Guard; about 60,000 border guards, and 100,000 officers of the National Police who are involved in the mobilization.