Ukraine Scraps Military Conscription to Professionalize Army

By The Moscow Times

Oct. 15, 2013

The scrapping of mandatory service in Ukraine is in line with global trands towards more highly trained military personnel.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a decree scrapping military conscription as of 2014.

Yanukovych announced the move during an award ceremony for the country's highest honor, the title Hero of Ukraine, on Oct. 14.

"Today our military arsenal, our technology is of such a standard that we require highly trained professionals. The technology being used is highly complex, which is why we need a professional army. These professional soldiers will have to safeguard the security of our country," the president said, Itar- Tass reported.

The transition towards a professional army will reduce Ukraine's armed forces from the current 180,000 to 120,000. Out of this number, 70,000 will serve in combat units, Itar-Tass said.

Ukraine's Interior Troops will continue to be staffed by conscripts.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue