Ukrainians do not want to go to the front. Emotional reactions to the latest idea of ​​the Ukrainian government

Lowered conscription age, mobilization of some disabled people, and bringing Ukrainians living abroad to the front — if the Ukrainian government hoped that the publication of the draft law on mobilization would go unnoticed, it seriously miscalculated. We didn't have to wait long for the reactions of young people and opposition politicians.

On Christmas Day, a government bill describing plans to mobilize half a million citizens to replenish the ranks of the Ukrainian army appeared on the website of the Ukrainian parliament. The government plans to lower the conscription age to 25 and also register Ukrainians who live abroad. Calls to the army could reach recruits by email. You can read more about the details of the bill in this text: “Ukraine is frantically looking for recruits. Everything you need to know about the mass mobilization project”.

Youth and MPs react to the bill on mobilization

After the project was published, government servers went down. The idea sparked heated discussions on social media. The majority reacted negatively and even accused the authors of the bill of violating the democratic principles of the state.

"They are introducing a dictatorship here. This bill will strip people of all their rights. According to it, the only thing a person can count on is death"
we read one of the comments.

MPs are arguing about the project. Ihor Lutsenko, a former parliamentarian and currently a soldier, addressed the legislators on this matter and proposed that 10 percent of MPs from various parliamentary clubs go to the front for six months (on a rotation basis) and work as air scouts, snipers, and drivers.

"Then no one will be able to claim that MPs sent someone to death while sitting in a warm building protected by air defense"
Lutsenko added.

Mariana Bezuhla, an MP from the President's Servant of the People party, known for her activity on social media, quickly responded. “I'm ready. As of February 24, 2022, I have already spent six months on the front line. None of my government colleagues could motivate themselves to go there. During the full-scale invasion, not a single meeting of the National Security Committee was held outside its headquarters”.

According to Iryna Herashchenko from the opposition European Solidarity, the government bill may introduce “grossly unconstitutional provisions regarding restrictions imposed on citizens”.

Solomija Bobrovska, an MP from the Voice Parliamentary Club, criticized the government for publishing the draft law on Christmas, which Ukraine officially celebrated on December 25 this year for the first time.

Problematic communication

MP Bezuhla promises that key details about the bill will be revealed soon. Despite ubiquitous criticism, she tried to calm the mood among citizens, adding that the preparation of the draft law included public consultations.

Expert Oksana Moroz commented on the way in which the authorities communicated the draft mobilization law to the public: "The authorities are currently testing the reaction of Ukrainian society to their proposals. The nature of the ongoing discussions will ultimately serve to discredit the idea of mobilization and, unfortunately, reduce the percentage of those willing to fight to the end."

"In such conditions, the result of the test will be obvious: the majority is against any changes that bring the possibility of mobilization closer"
concluded the communications expert.