No grounds for new wave of mobilization in Ukraine - Poltorak

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said that there are no grounds for a new wave of mobilization in Ukraine.

He said this in an interview with the BBC Ukrainian, which was published on the Defense Ministry's website on Tuesday.

"As for the next wave of mobilization, we do not have such a necessity today. There are several reasons, and one of them is that we managed to carry out serious work with the reserve of the first stage, that is, with people who have combat experience," Poltorak said.

According to him, reservists have already been registered not only with military recruitment offices, but also with military units. "A teaching and methodological training is conducted every year. They are trained for two to three weeks in a brigade for combat coordination. These people are ready to take weapons in a few days - finish the staffing of the units or form new units and perform tasks. We [...] clearly understand how many people we have and what we can count on. We have learned to calculate the risks in case of the need to conduct mobilization, but once again I want to say that I do not see such a necessity today," he said.

He said that the minimum salary of a serviceman was UAH 7,500-7,800 and noted that "it is a small amount of money" given the risks of "losing life and health in the army." At the same time, Poltorak said, salaries for those serving in the area of the anti-terrorist operation managed were raised from UAH 2,400 to UAH 10,000 per month. "I think that the main reason for the reinforcement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with contract soldiers is motivation, patriotism and a sense of responsibility and the need to fulfill your male duty. Money, of course, is in the second place," he said.

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