Zelenskyy on demands to lower conscription age: We have over 100 brigades in need of equipment

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on Western officials’ calls for the conscription age to be lowered in Ukraine, saying that the first priority for the Ukrainian army is weapons and equipment.
Source: Interfax-Ukraine, quoting Zelenskyy ahead of a meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Kyiv on Tuesday
Quote: "And so, when we talk about increasing the number of our people [in the army – ed.], we must understand that firstly, our brigades are not properly equipped today. We need to provide our brigades with the appropriate equipment. Our partners have all these requests," Zelenskyy said.
"We have heard many times about the age of our military – the conscription age and all that. And, as has rightly been said, by representatives of the [soon to be] former administration [of US President Joe Biden – ed.], and by representatives of NATO countries... You know, I'm not going to give a very precise figure, because it's dangerous, but we have more than a hundred brigades on the battlefield, and each of these brigades needs equipment every day."
Background:
- US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has repeatedly stated that Ukraine should step up its mobilisation.
- On 14 January, Sullivan said that the shortage of manpower in the Ukrainian army remained an acute problem, despite significant military assistance from the West.
- On 12 January, Donald Trump's incoming national security adviser, Congressman Mike Waltz, said he believes Ukraine should lower the draft age to bring in hundreds of thousands of new troops and stabilise the front line.
Support UP or become our patron!