Svitlana Pokalchuk, a mother from Ukraine, made the heart-wrenching decision to send her adolescent sons overseas to protect them from mandatory military service in her homeland. She shared her worries and sorrow with RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, acknowledging the grave reality of many boys no longer being with their families due to the ongoing conflict.
Pokalchuk is not alone in her fears. In a bid to bolster its defense against ever-encroaching Russian forces, Ukraine, with urging from its primary military supporter, the United States, has lowered its conscription age from 25 to 18. This move has seen a rise in Ukrainian families choosing to send their sons abroad to avoid the draft.
“The primary reason [for sending them abroad] is their immediate safety,” Pokalchuk expressed, showing the raw fear of a mother faced with the prospect of her sons going to war. “These boys are still young and lack the necessary military training.”
In April, Ukraine decreased the conscription age from 27 to 25. However, the Biden administration in November 2024 urged Ukraine to reduce the draft age further to 18. This call was echoed by the designated national-security adviser for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Mike Waltz, on January 12.
The phrase ‘Children To The Slaughter’ aptly represents the reaction in Kyiv – one of absolute negativity. Locals express concern not just for the safety of these young boys, but also for the future of their nation. The 18-25 age group is currently the smallest demographic in Ukraine, due to a sharp decline in the birth rate following the Soviet Union’s collapse and the ensuing economic turmoil.
The worry is not unjustified. Official statistics reveal a stark demographic gap, worsened by emigration driven by economic struggles and war. Oleksandr Hladun, deputy director at the Ukrainian Academy of Science’s Demography Institute, notes that a quarter of Ukrainian high school students aim to continue their studies abroad, further depleting the country’s young population.
The resistance to conscription is further fueled by allegations of corruption at draft offices and reports of officials dodging military service through fraudulent disability claims. A 2024 poll showed nearly half of Ukrainians felt no shame in evading the draft.
The political response to lowering the recruitment age has been equally negative. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has emphasized the need for better arms and equipment, rather than more soldiers. However, as pressure mounts, even Zelenskiy might have to reconsider his stance, especially given President-elect Trump’s apparent reluctance to support Ukraine militarily.
While the focus of this piece isn’t on investment opportunities, it provides valuable insights into the current socio-political climate in Ukraine, which is crucial for potential investors to understand.
