Zelensky signs law on the calling up reservists for military service

According to the office of the President of Ukraine, Zelensky approved the law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Improvement of Certain Issues of the Execution of Military Duty and Maintenance of Military Records", adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on March 30, 2021 at the initiative of the head of state.

“The law, in particular, introduces a new type of service - military service for the conscription of persons from among the reservists in a “special period”. So, during this period, citizens who have entered into contracts for service in the military reserve will be called up", - TASS reports.

In order to announce such a call, the decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces must follow on the proposal of the Commander-in-Chief. The document must contain information on the timing, scope, tasks and categories of reservists to be called up.

An important innovation adopted in the law was the change in the military registration system in the country "in a European way". In addition, from now on, Ukraine introduces criminal liability for draft evasion during the period of military registration or training camps.

Earlier it was expected that in June more than 14.2 thousand recruits would be called up for military service in the country. Of these, 6.5 thousand will join the ranks of the Armed Forces, 4.6 thousand will go to the National Guard, 2.5 thousand - to the State Border Service and 600 - to the State Special Transport Service.

The law on the conscription of reservists was adopted against the background of a serious aggravation of the situation in the east of the country. The Ukrainian authorities and NATO member states were particularly concerned about the massive redeployment of Russian troops towards the Russian-Ukrainian border and the accompanying violation of the ceasefire in Donbass.