The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov explained that the term demobilization will not be used until the end of the war, although the fighters will be given the opportunity to rest, reports Ukrainian Pravda.

Umerov noted that the Ministry of Defense and the Verkhovna Rada are preparing a draft law on mobilization, which will soon be registered.

“We can use the word “demobilization” only after the end of the war.” While the enemy continues to fight, we have found solutions that allow a person who has been on the front line for two years to learn the rules of a break or a partial release.”

Umerov believes that “if the government wants to be supported by society”, it should explain how mobilization, demobilization, postponement or dismissal, social protection, etc. will be carried out.

The defense minister says he wants military service “not to be seen as a punishment”.

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been saying since November that Ukraine is working on reforms of the program for the mobilization of troops.

According to him, the General Staff discussed the issue of mobilization and demobilization, rotation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the issue of conscripts who started military service before the large-scale invasion.

Zelenskyi did not reveal the details of the reforms then. According to him, the issues of military medical commissions and recruitment points will be resolved.

From time to time, recruiting agencies are rocked by scandals related to mistakes or cruel hiring tactics.

In August, Zelenskyi dismissed all the heads of the regional recruitment points of the Ukrainian army due to numerous facts of corruption

At the same time, the Secretary of the National Security Council Oleksiy Danilov said that people who were drafted and served their time will be demobilized.

Thus, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine refutes his statements.

The army demands the mobilization of 500,000 people

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on December 19 that the army has requested the mobilization of an additional 450,000-500,000 people, but no final decision has been made.

Zelensky noted that mobilization of this scale will require additional funding.

• “I said I would need more arguments to support this move. Because, firstly, it is a question of people, secondly, it is a question of justice, it is a question of defense capability and it is a question of finances.”

Zelensky said an additional 500 billion hryvnias ($13.5 billion) would be needed to support the mobilization if the decision is adopted.

Former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said last summer that about 1 million people are employed in the security and defense sector of Ukraine.