Mobilization of retired law enforcement officers and students, the issue of the defense budget: what the Verkhovna Rada thinks

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country has faced a number of unprecedented challenges related to mobilization, the defense budget, and social transformation. This not only concerns the security of the state, but also affects the issues of justice and social responsibility.

In the conditions of war, when every citizen seems to have to contribute to the victory, questions arise that inflame public opinion: should pensioners from the security forces be mobilized? How to treat those who try to avoid service by entering higher education institutions at a mature age? And finally, how can Ukraine, with an economy on the brink of exhaustion, be able to finance its defense? All these questions are considered in the Verkhovna Rada, the answers to them provided the head of the subcommittee on state security, defense and defense innovations of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on national security, defense and intelligence Fedir Venislavskyi.

Mobilization of retired law enforcement officers: myth or manipulation?

There is a widespread belief in society that law enforcement officers who retire at a relatively young age stay out of the war, while other citizens are forced to participate in hostilities. However, as the head of the subcommittee on state security, defense and defense innovations of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on national security, defense and intelligence, Fedir Venislavskyi, noted, this statement is a manipulation.

According to him, all citizens who have become pensioners of law enforcement agencies are transferred to the general military register and are subject to mobilization on general grounds. It is important to note that this applies only to those who are medically fit for service, which emphasizes the need for an equal approach to the mobilization of all citizens.

“All of them are transferred from special registration to general military registration and are subject to the same call-up for mobilization during martial law as all other citizens of Ukraine. If a police officer is deemed fit for military service due to his health, he is subject to general mobilization “, – noted the People’s Deputy.

Student mobilization: an educational gimmick or a real need?

Another issue of concern in society concerns students who try to avoid mobilization by entering higher education at a mature age. After the start of the war, the number of applicants between the ages of 25 and 50 increased, which led to abuses in the field of education.

The acquisition of education, especially on a paid basis, has become a means of obtaining a reprieve from service, which cannot but cause indignation among those who really seek to acquire knowledge, and not to shirk their duty to the state.

According to Venislavskyi, the Verkhovna Rada is already working on a solution to this problem, limiting the possibility of obtaining a deferment only for successive levels of education, which makes it impossible to obtain several higher educations in order to avoid the draft.

“This problem is being solved. But it should be noted that citizens who enter education at the age of 45-50 definitely do not enter the budget. This is exclusively a contract. Some educational institutions even build a business on this. We have solved this problem, since it can be exclusively about successive levels of education. If a citizen of Ukraine has obtained a master’s degree in the same specialty, this will be a basis for a postponement of the draft. If it is a question of obtaining a second or third higher education, then this is not a basis for a postponement “, – said Venislavskyi.

Defense budget: are there enough funds for the war?

Financing the country’s defense needs has become one of the hottest topics in the Verkhovna Rada. During the war, two-thirds of every hryvnia comes from external borrowing, which poses the problem of ensuring the stability of these revenues.

The problems of the budget that surfaced in the process of its adoption do not indicate miscalculations of the authorities, but rather emphasize the need for a flexible approach to the formation of the country’s financial strategy. Detinization of the economy and potential tax increases became the main tools to support military spending. At the same time, the question arises as to how effective these measures will be, and whether the country is capable of quickly mobilizing additional financial resources if necessary.

“It cannot be said that we miscalculated. Every budget year in July-August, the state budget indicators are reviewed. Two thirds of every hryvnia is external borrowing. Due to the detinization of the economy, we are trying to bring additional funds out of the shadows, but there is always a need for redirection and clarification budget expenditures”, – explained Venislavskyi.

Therefore, the discussions in the Verkhovna Rada reflect the complexity of the challenges Ukraine is facing. The mobilization of pensioners, students and the issue of defense funding emphasize the need for an integrated approach to solving problems arising in wartime. These decisions affect the destinies of thousands of Ukrainians who seek to contribute to the defense of the state, and at the same time require the authorities to be flexible and responsible in making decisions that determine the future of the country.