According to the new decree, the government must develop plans to gradually increase the pay and transform the army into a professional army. “This decree comes to bring peace, peace in Ukraine,” the 44-year-old told parliament.
Zelensky wants to increase the number of soldiers by 100,000 by 2025. Currently, there are a maximum of 265,000. Conscription will be abolished in 2024.
Conscription was introduced in 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the start of fighting between government forces and separatists loyal to Moscow in eastern Ukraine. The conflict, which has never ended despite peace agreements, has already left more than 13,000 dead.