Ex-Aidar commander calls to lower draft age

Yevhen Dykyi, a former commander of Ukraine's controversial 'Aidar' Battalion, has called for lowering the country's military conscription age from 25 to 21. He argued that younger conscripts could be more effectively trained and integrated into the armed forces as Ukraine continues its defense against Russia. Dykyi stated, 'Honestly, I don't understand why we shouldn't start gradually lowering the conscription age from 25 to 21,' emphasizing the need for a phased approach. The proposal comes amid ongoing debates about mobilization and manpower in Ukraine's protracted war effort.