At the final press conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that the General Staff is requesting an additional mobilization of 450-500 thousand individuals. According to him, this requires a comprehensive plan that will address issues related to those who have been continuously engaged in combat for almost two years.
"The Ukrainian army needs people, ammunition, and weapons to continue military operations, especially individuals capable of fulfilling assigned tasks. My main concern is for people to join the military and be able to carry out the assigned tasks. Regarding deferments and who the state will call up, I believe that is not within my competence today," stated Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny during a telethon.
He emphasized that central executive authorities are responsible for determining who to call up.
"I need people, I need ammunition, and I need weapons to continue military operations," added Zaluzhny.
Previously, Zaluzhny mentioned that it is too early to evaluate the initiative for recruiting into the Defense Forces but expressed the view that mobilization should not be intensified but rather returned to previous frameworks. He also criticized the dismissal of regional military commissariats, which were staffed by professionals who knew what to do
