Retired Major General Calls for Review of Mobilization Policy in Ukraine

The retired Major General of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), who previously served as the deputy head of the agency, has voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing mobilization efforts in Ukraine. He emphasized that there exists a troubling moral imbalance within the military, as many of the civilian men being conscripted lack military experience and are often older than the personnel they are replacing. These individuals, who previously worked in various fields such as engineering, driving, information technology, and education, undergo basic training before being deployed to combat units, frequently in the most dangerous areas of the front.

Conversely, there is a significant number of military retirees and reserve officers in Ukraine who have retired at the age of 40 or even earlier. Many of these individuals possess the necessary experience, education, ranks, and management skills, as well as physical fitness. These professionals could be invaluable in training systems, staff roles, territorial recruitment centers (TCC), training centers, supply services, and analytics. However, a considerable portion of this demographic has effectively fallen out of the state defense system.

The general stated that the issue does not lie with the military retirees themselves, but rather with the fact that the government has yet to establish an effective system for utilizing this human resource. He raised several questions that challenge the logic of the mobilization policy: how can the state claim there is a shortage of trained commanders, instructors, and specialists while simultaneously not engaging individuals it has trained and is paying military pensions to?

The general also highlighted the apparent injustice in the system, questioning why the state would mobilize a 45-year-old civilian without military experience but lacks a systematic mechanism to involve a 42-year-old former officer. This disparity fosters a sense of injustice within society, which could lead to disillusionment and demotivation among active military personnel. When soldiers observe inexperienced individuals fighting alongside them while professionals remain outside the system, it could adversely affect the morale of the army.

General Rakhmanin further noted that when civilians witness the mobilization of untrained individuals while military retirees are overlooked, it breeds frustration. Society begins to lose faith in fairness, and wars are not won solely with weapons but also through a sense of justice. This issue is not populist in nature; rather, it requires a clear governmental logic to address the problem effectively.

Among the general's proposals is the need for a comprehensive audit of military retirees and reserve officers up to a certain age to clearly understand who among them can be called to service. He also called for the restoration of the principle that if the state pays a military pension to a capable individual during wartime, it has the right to expect some form of service from them, even if it is not on the front lines.

Additionally, the general suggests creating a systematic mechanism to engage this category of individuals in instructor corps, mobilization units, training centers, territorial defense, and critical infrastructure protection. He also pointed out the necessity to review dubious conclusions regarding unfitness that may have been issued due to corruption or connections.

In conclusion, the general emphasized that receiving a military pension during a major war is not only a right but also a responsibility. Professional military experience during wartime is a crucial resource for national security. If the state does not take action in this direction, society will continue to feel that there are two wars: one for those without connections and another for those who have already served. This perception could become the most dangerous factor for the army, as no military can withstand the feeling of injustice.