{"id":2509661,"date":"2025-11-12T11:40:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kyiv-mayor-warns-ukraine-has-huge-problems-finding-soldiers\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T11:40:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:40:56","slug":"kyiv-mayor-warns-ukraine-has-huge-problems-finding-soldiers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kyiv-mayor-warns-ukraine-has-huge-problems-finding-soldiers\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyiv mayor warns Ukraine has &#8216;huge problems&#8217; finding soldiers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkyiv-mayor-warns-ukraine-has-huge-problems-finding-soldiers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2509661&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has raised concerns about Ukraine&#8217;s serious difficulties in recruiting enough soldiers to defend against ongoing Russian attacks. With many Ukrainians fleeing westward to Europe amid the war, the country faces a shrinking pool of military personnel. Klitschko suggested lowering the conscription age from the current 25 to 22 or 23, noting that while 18-year-olds served in the past, they are considered too young now. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently reduced the draft age from 27 to 25 and also allowed citizens over 60 to enlist, but media calls to lower the age further have been cautioned against. despite efforts allowing younger Ukrainians (18-22) to leave the country temporarily for education, maintaining the young population in Ukraine is crucial. Klitschko emphasized that peace, jobs, and a good quality of life are essential for these young people to return. meanwhile, Russia continues its offensive, having gained control over about 90% of the strategically vital Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kyiv mayor warns Ukraine has &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >huge problems&#038;rsquo<\/a>; finding soldiers as Russian attacks &lsquo;just keep coming&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2399372\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The mayor of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kyiv\/\">Kyiv<\/a>, Ukraine, Vitali Klitschko, is sounding the alarm over the number of soldiers the country can retain as it fights to stave off <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Russia\/\">Russian<\/a> forces.<\/p>\n<p>Klitschko said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\">Ukraine<\/a> is having &ldquo;huge problems&rdquo; finding enough soldiers to defend the country, as Ukrainians flee west from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia-ukraine-war\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ethiopian-orthodox-church-urges-action-in-human-rights-crisis\/\" title=\"Ethiopian Orthodox Church Urges Action in Human Rights Crisis\">war-torn region<\/a><\/a> to Europe. Klitschko suggested the government should lower the age at which citizens can be enlisted in the country&rsquo;s army from 25.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3883276\/ron-dermer-israeli-ceasefire-negotiation-resigns\/\">Top Netanyahu confidant who led Israeli ceasefire negotiation team resigns<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3882395\/cold-disease-threaten-gaza-winter-approaches\/\">Cold and disease threaten postceasefire Gaza as winter approaches<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3882477\/bbc-executive-tim-davie-tells-staff-fight-for-journalism-without-addressing-trump-lawsuit\/\">Outgoing BBC executive tells staff to &#8216;fight&#8217; for journalism without addressing Trump lawsuit threat<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;In the past, 18-year-olds served in the army &mdash; but those are kids,&rdquo; Klitschko said. &ldquo;Right now, you can only be mobilized in Ukraine from age 25. You could lower it by a year or two &mdash; to 23 or 22.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He made the comments in an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, telling the network that Russian soldiers &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/war-in-ukraine-draft-age-russia-vitali-klitschko\/\">just keep coming<\/a>, they don&rsquo;t care about fallen soldiers,&rdquo; according to <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lowered the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/2952170\/zelensky-signs-law-lowering-draft-age-boost-fighting-force\/\">draft age from 27 to 25<\/a> in April 2024 to boost the country&rsquo;s soldier numbers. In December 2024, Zelensky <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZelenskyyUa\/status\/1866243624356425889?s=20\">cautioned against<\/a> cries in the media to lower the draft age further. In July, Zelensky <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kyivpost.com\/post\/57177\">signed a law<\/a> allowing citizens over 60 to enlist.<\/p>\n<p>As many Ukrainians flee their home country for Western Europe for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/asylum-and-refugees\/\">asylum<\/a> from the war, the country&rsquo;s manpower continues to dwindle.<\/p>\n<p>The Ukrainian government made way for 18 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/marjorie-taylor-greene-how-to-stop-mass-shootings\/\" title=\"Marjorie Taylor Greene: How to Stop Mass Shootings\">22-year-olds<\/a> to flee the country several months ago, with the goal of having children stay through their education instead of leaving with their parents. The order also allowed the young adults to pass back through the border freely when they wish to return.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If we want to keep boys in Ukraine, we really need them to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/czx05gp51qlo\">finish school here first<\/a> and for their parents not to take them away,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\">Zelensky<\/a> said in a press conference.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3879114\/the-battle-for-pokrovsk-city-in-danger-of-falling-to-russia\/\">THE BATTLE FOR POKROVSK: KEY UKRAINIAN CITY IN DANGER OF FALLING TO RUSSIA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Klitschko said in the interview that for young people to return to Ukraine, the country needs &ldquo;peace, jobs, and a good quality of life.&rdquo; He also likened Russia&rsquo;s attacks to &ldquo;a computer game.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As the war wages on, Russia has taken about 90% of the battleground Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a fall which would be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rnc-weighs-funding-liz-cheney-america-first-opponent-harriet-hageman\/\" title=\"RNC Weighs Funding Liz Cheney America First Opponent Harriet H...man\">huge boon<\/a> to Russian President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vladimir-putin\/\">Vladimir Putin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kyiv mayor warns Ukraine struggles to find enough soldiers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2509662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap23175434214854-scaled-e1762963372980.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5237,10004,4505,14756,6991],"class_list":["post-2509661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-conflict","tag-kyiv","tag-military","tag-recruitment","tag-ukraine"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap23175434214854-scaled-e1762963372980.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2509661"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2509665,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509661\/revisions\/2509665"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2509662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2509661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2509661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2509661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}