Contractors of the “18–24” program may be called up to the Armed Forces of Ukraine immediately after demobilization: Kostenko

Young men who have signed a one-year contract with the Ministry of Defense under the “18–24” program can be mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine the very next day after completing their service. The Verkhovna Rada did not support a bill that would have provided for a deferral for this category of servicemen. This was reported by Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliamentary defense committee. He explained that after the end of the contract, these young people automatically become subject to military service and can receive a summons at any time. According to the People’s Deputy, a bill was registered in the Verkhovna Rada that was supposed to provide a one-year deferment for former contract workers of the “18–24” program, but the deputies did not support it. Populist deputies began to shout that there is something wrong there, and everyone else, without understanding, voted. Thus, they did not give the people who fought the war the right to a deferment. This is completely absurd,” Roman Kostenko admitted. As a result, the military, who served under the “18–24” contract, were left without the deferment promised by the state. “But the deputies did not vote because they do not read the laws. And this is a problem,” the parliamentarian emphasized.