Ukraine to raise the age limit for contract military service for officers

Colonel Serhiy Litovchenko, deputy head of the Military Personnel Policy Division of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's Personnel Policy Department, said this during a briefing at the Military Media Centre.

The age limit for contract military service may be raised from 30 to 32 years. The innovation will apply to officers, citizens from among military personnel, reservists, conscripts without officer ranks, and citizens of conscription age who have received at least a bachelor's degree and successfully completed an officer's military training course.

According to Litovchenko, this possibility is regulated by the law (No. 2978-IX "On Amendments to Article 20 of the Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service" regarding manning of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with officers for a special period.)

He added that during martial law, the aforementioned law allows the contracting of military service by non-commissioned officers from among sergeants and petty officers without higher education. Provided that they have been directly involved in military (combat) operations and have successfully carried out their duties as officers for at least three months.

At the same time, in order to increase their motivation for military service and to enable them to fulfil their potential while serving as officers, such servicemen are given the opportunity to undergo appropriate military training in an area relevant to their line of duty within six months from the date of termination or cancellation of military status," the officer said.