Ukraine’s top general criticizes draft offices in a rare press conference.

On Tuesday, the head of the Ukrainian armed forces voiced his dissatisfaction with the performance of the military draft offices. He also made some statements that suggested the draft offices could mobilize more troops for the battle against Russia.

The Ukrainian parliament published the text of draft legislation, including improvements to the army draft program, a day after General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi appeared at his first wartime press conference. The draft law includes measures such as decreasing the age of soldiers who can be mobilized from 27 to 25.

Following the publication of the law, there was a lot of debate on social media, which seemed to inspire the general, who is usually quite timid about public speaking, to make an unusual effort to talk to the press.

For now, he expressed dissatisfaction with the draft office’s job.

“If I was satisfied with their work, we would not be here discussing this draft law (on mobilisation).”

Tens of thousands of soldiers volunteered to fight for Ukraine in the first few months of Russia’s invasion, but that excitement has waned now that the full-scale conflict has been going on for 22 months.

Zaluzhnyi also responded to a wide variety of other inquiries concerning the current condition of the fight.

In answer to one, he admitted that Ukrainian soldiers had retreated to the outskirts of Maryinka, a town that had been the subject of fighting for several months and which the general had stated “no longer existed” as a result of the damage that had been inflicted upon it.

In answer to another question, he stated that the war in 2024 will be different from the conflict in 2023, citing the vast diversity of combat technology constantly being developed.

DELICATE SUBTLE MATTER

The reforms are compassionate for an exhausted people amid a conflict that has been going on for over two years and continues to have no end in sight. In a statement made by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy the previous week, he stated that the military had suggested recruiting between 450,000 and 500,000 extra individual soldiers.

Even though Zaluzhnyi confirmed that amount, he stated that it had not originated from the military organization. He stated that such a number represented the broader strategy and would be filled gradually.

During an interview with reporters in Kyiv, he stated that he would never have disclosed such a figure to the public. This statement has the potential to reignite public conjecture regarding political tension between him and the president of Ukraine during the conflict.

“I would not publicly discuss these figures,” stated the politician.

In 2023, Zaluzhnyi was in charge of the counteroffensive, which was unsuccessful in retaking considerable quantities of the area that the Russians captured.

However, even though he was successful in driving Russian soldiers out of Ukraine’s capital in the early part of 2022 and in directing two successful counteroffensives that autumn, which retook considerable areas of land, he continues to have a great deal of popularity among a significant number of Ukrainians.

In the year 2023, we had some very lofty objectives. I was not dissatisfied with the amount of foreign assistance provided in 2023. Naturally, it was not the total sum demanded, but it did make it possible for us to carry out military operations with complete assurance,” he stated.

The general was cited as suggesting that the conflict was moving into a stalemate due to the technological state of play on the battlefield. This statement received condemnation from the president’s office. This comment caused tensions between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskiy to surface in November.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Zelenskiy and his friends have repeatedly presented a more optimistic perspective. They have asserted that Ukraine is capable of and would be able to expel Russian soldiers out of every single inch of seized land.

Zaluzhnyi stated that the time since he made his remarks had proven correct: “I received a lot of criticism for this, but in time people realized that I was absolutely right.”

He claimed that Ukraine and its allies had already resolved most of the issues and questions he raised in his remarks about the battlefield in November. He made these statements in November.

Regarding the draft attempt, he stated that he would be in favor of the implementation of electronic army call-ups. This move would either replace or strengthen the existing model of draft officials handing out call-up papers to individuals as they are walking down the street or attending checkpoints.

“We are glad for any means that will secure our demand for people,” added the politician.