General Zaluzhnyi briefing: key notes

Source: General Valerii Zaluzhnyi on TV

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi commented on the draft law on mobilization, which was submitted by the government to the Verkhovna Rada.

The General believes that the year 2024 will be different from the previous one in view of the change in the technologies of warfare. ‘Our partners, who were also interested in this issue, completely agreed with us. So I can assure you that next year will be different… At least we are working on that,’ he said.

General Zaluzhnyi stated that he is dissatisfied with the current work of the military conscription offices. ‘If I were satisfied, we would not be discussing the issue of this draft law now,’ he added.

The commander-in-chief also said that is not his competence who would be mobilized. This is the task of the government. ‘I need people, I need ammunition and I need weapons to continue fighting,’ he stressed.

Regarding the mobilization of the disabled persons, Zaluzhnyi said that the use of the term of ‘disabled people’ is inappropriate. ‘Currently, the possibility of the military service is not determined by the disability that a person has, but by the military medical commission, which determines whether a person is fit for the military service or not,’ he explained.

The General said that together with the Ministry of Defense it was agreed that the new law on mobilization would provide for service in the army for 36 months after conscription. However, he added that the period of 36 months is not real in the current conditions.