Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that military service should be a thing of the past, replaced by a new approach with regular training courses for adult men and the development of a culture of gun ownership. It is reported by RBC with reference to the Ukrainian media.
“The culture of the military profession should become a trend. As in Israel, for example. Perhaps we no longer need urgent service. But every young person at the age of 18 begins to take special training courses: medicine, shooting, trenches, coordination. Then he studies for whomever he wants, but once a year he takes monthly courses in specialization, ”the Minister of Defense believes.
Also, according to him, it is necessary to develop a culture of owning weapons in the country so that all adult Ukrainians know how to use them. “Going to a shooting range is a culture that should exist. Shooting galleries should work so that everyone knows how to skillfully use firearms, ”Reznikov said, adding that it is necessary to issue a permit to own a weapon only after checking with a psychiatrist, narcologist and law enforcement agencies.
Answering the question of whether these are personal thoughts or “plans of the state”, Reznikov replied that these are his thoughts, “discussed and agreed with the Prime Minister.” Corresponding changes to the legislation are being prepared, they “clearly coincide” with the position of the president of the country, he added.
In September 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky canceled the autumn conscription for military service in October-December 2022 and postponed the transfer to the reserve for a period “not earlier than the announcement of demobilization in the prescribed manner.” Later, the Verkhovna Rada abolished conscription for military service during the period of martial law in the country.
On February 1, 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree that provides for the termination of conscription for military service in Ukraine from January 1, 2024. The document did not introduce this norm directly – it was included in the number of instructions to the government, which should develop and submit a corresponding bill to the parliament. Zelensky called the decree “the start of Ukraine’s transition to a professional army.”
Source: Rosbalt
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