The military has proposed to mobilize an additional 450-500 thousand people at the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the final press conference, an UNN correspondent reports.
Zelensky noted that he had been approached by the General Staff and the Chief of Staff at the level of the Staff regarding mobilization.
"I think the issue of mobilization is very sensitive. They asked about the defense of our state, and potential counteroffensive actions, about the deficit, and their eyes were on the prize, they proposed to mobilize additional 450-500 thousand people... This is a very serious figure. I said that I needed more arguments to support this direction, because it is a matter of people, justice, defense capability and finance," Zelensky said.
He noted that he needed specifics.
"As for the people, I need specifics... If we have rotation issues, we have vacation issues, it should be a comprehensive plan. And in this mobilization law, you have to provide answers to me and, above all, to society. So they started working on this plan. I have not yet seen demobilization in it, although I think it is the number one issue. And the question is not what this process is called, but the main thing is that this process should be... It is very difficult for them (soldiers - ed.) there. I would very much like our military leadership to understand all these challenges," Zelensky said.
Zelenskyy said that before talking about additional mobilization, the issue of demobilization must be resolved.
"If we are talking about additional mobilization forces, we must find demobilization processes, and this must be done in a substantive way, with specifics and with great respect for the soldiers. There should also be issues of leave. All the requests that our army has must meet modern challenges," Zelensky said.
In addition, he said, mobilization will cost an additional UAH 500 million.
"Between us, mobilization in this format will cost Ukraine an additional 500 billion hryvnias," Zelensky said.