In the face of continued battles around Karkhiv, Ukraine starts conscripting younger men

  • 4 months ago

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Transcript
00:00 After more than two years of war, weapons supplies are heavily depleted and so are personnel.
00:07 For some of the soldiers on Ukraine's front line, a new mobilisation law couldn't come
00:12 sooner.
00:13 "It should have been done earlier in my humble opinion."
00:17 Mammoth is a military drone pilot who says he went to war aged 22 without experience.
00:23 But step by step his commander taught him the skills he needed.
00:27 "This mobilisation law is not popular.
00:30 I won't say for everyone but for many.
00:33 Of course people are scared, this is normal.
00:36 But decisions have to be made and we have to fight."
00:41 The law which came into effect on Saturday includes a clause that lowers the conscription
00:45 age to join the army from 27 to 25 and offers financial incentives to encourage more troops.
00:52 Some critics are worried it will lead to businesses closing if the majority of their staff are
00:57 mobilised.
00:58 Others are concerned that it will take too long to train new troops and that it is too
01:02 little too late.
01:04 With some estimates saying at least 100,000 new troops are needed to repel Russia's advancing
01:09 forces.
01:11 For Coyote, the law could have gone a step further.
01:14 "Who criticises it?
01:16 Civilians?
01:17 Only civilians who don't see themselves in the army.
01:20 They don't have a war.
01:21 But I think it's normal, starting from the age of 25.
01:24 I would have made the age even lower."
01:27 But while the law may be unpopular, these soldiers say that without it, they could risk
01:32 losing the war.
01:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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