---
title: "Kostenko: Radical changes to conscription age and mobilization under discussion in the Rada"
description: "Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Rada's defense committee, stated that \"radical\" changes to the conscription age and the mobilization procedure are being discussed in Ukraine. The specific parameters of the reform are not disclosed, and a transition to voluntary conscription is ruled out."
date: 2026-08-22T23:50:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kostenko-radical-changes-conscription-age-mobilization-rada
tags: [ukraine, mobilization, conscription-age, verkhovna-rada, defense-policy, kostenko]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Kostenko: Radical changes to conscription age and mobilization under discussion in the Rada

![Kostenko speaks in the Verkhovna Rada hall on changes to conscription age and mobilization](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/22/kostenko-radikalnye-izmeneniya-prizyvnogo-vozrasta-mobilizaciya/kostenko-radikalnye-izmeneniya-prizyvnogo-vozrasta-mobilizaciya-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Roman Kostenko confirmed that changes to the conscription age are being discussed in the Rada, but did not reveal the direction of the adjustment
- The increase in financial allowances for contracts did not lead to a rise in the number of people willing to serve
- A transition to voluntary conscription is not planned; mobilization will retain its mandatory character
- Rumors about canceling the deferment for parents of 3+ children and about the mobilization of women were debunked

Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, revealed in an interview with the program "Veliky Lviv" that changes to the mobilization procedure, which may affect the conscription age, are being actively discussed in the Ukrainian parliament and security structures. According to him, "things are moving" and "some radical measures" are already being implemented, although the specific parameters of the reform — including the direction of the age-limit changes — were not publicly clarified by the MP. He emphasized that any official notice of possible adjustments must come from the Ministry of Defense or the General Staff.

### Conscription age: no specifics, but a hint of "radicalism"

Kostenko confirmed that "some things are changing" regarding the conscription age, but when directly asked whether the lower or upper limit would be lowered or raised, he gave an evasive answer: "I won't go into details; I think that will be said in due course." This approach is typical of parliamentary announcements when a bill has not yet been submitted to the Rada, but a working group is already preparing the text. Experts had previously noted that the current conscription age (18–27) could be adjusted in either direction — both to expand the pool of conscripts and to partially exempt the older age cohort employed in critical industries. Until an official document appears, any specific figures remain speculation.

### Financial incentives are not working: the motivation problem

A separate part of Kostenko's statement was devoted to the effectiveness of financial motivation. The MP noted that the increase in contract allowances introduced in recent months had not led to a rise in the number of people willing to sign contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "We see that some financial allowances were added to contracts, but it is not increasing from that. It either decreases or stays as it is," the committee secretary remarked. This assessment matches data previously cited by military experts and regional heads of Territorial Centers for Mobilization and Social Support of Veterans (TCMS), who pointed out that after an initial surge of interest in "expensive contracts," the flow of new contract soldiers had stabilized at a low level.

### Transition to voluntarism is ruled out

Kostenko directly refuted the expectations of part of the public about a possible shift to an exclusively voluntary conscription. "If anyone thinks that our mobilization, which is mandatory and lawful, will become something else — you want to leave, you leave; you don't want, you don't — no such decisions will be made. Because those who wanted to defend the country have already left," he stated. Thus, the mandatory nature of mobilization, enshrined in current legislation, will be preserved, and the reform, according to him, is aimed at "humanizing" the procedure rather than abolishing it.

### Debunking rumors: deferments for parents and mobilization of women

During the same interview, Kostenko dispelled two persistent myths circulating on social media. First, he stated that there are no legislative initiatives to cancel the mobilization deferment for parents of three or more children, and none is planned in the near future. Second, the MP emphasized that women's service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will remain exclusively voluntary — no changes in this direction are being prepared. Both statements are important in the context of a growing information campaign around mobilization topics, when unconfirmed "leaks" from security structures regularly cause panic in society.

### Context: TCMS reform and control over students

Kostenko's statement fits into a broader cycle of announcements regarding the reform of the mobilization system. Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the Ministry of Defense to prepare "real proposals" to change the mobilization procedure, making it "more humane." Deputy Defense Minister Lyubov Galan confirmed that a comprehensive reform of the mobilization system and the territorial centers for mobilization is being developed in the ministry, which she described as a matter of a "clear timeframe." In parallel, the Ministry of Education and Science announced strengthened control over students over 25 as part of the fight against fictitious enrollment — one of the forms of evading conscription. The totality of these initiatives indicates that by the autumn of 2026 the parliament may consider a package of amendments affecting age limits, the procedure for deferments, and the work of the TCMS.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Rada begins discussing a review of the conscription age: Kostenko reveals details](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/radi-zagovorili-pereglyad-prizovnogo-viku-1787440829.html) - Первичный источник интервью. Подтверждает все ключевые цитаты: «радикальные вещи», отсутствие конкретики по возрасту, опровержение слухов об отсрочках и женской мобилизации.
- [MP announces discussion of possible changes to mobilization related to the conscription age](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/08/23/novost/bezopasnost/nardep-zayavil-obsuzhdenii-vozmozhnyx-izmenenij-mobilizacii-svyazannyx-prizyvnym-vozrastom) - Совпадает с версией РБК по содержанию цитат. Добавляет контекст о том, что официальное уведомление придёт от Минобороны или Генштаба.
- [Ministry of Defense prepares changes to the conscription age: some radical measures to be introduced ...](https://24tv.ua/ru/prizyvnoj-vozrast-v-ukraine-kak-ego-hotjat-izmenit-v-minoborony-zajavlenie-kostenko_n3128194) - Подтверждает тезис о «радикальных мерах» и ссылается на то же интервью. Не вносит новых фактов, но фиксирует дату публикации.
- ["Radical measures": change to the conscription age during mobilization announced in the Rada](https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/radikalnye-mery-v-rade-anonsirovali-izmenenie-prizyvnogo-vozrasta-vo-vremya-mobilizatsii-3153743.html) - Четвёртое независимое подтверждение содержания заявления. Все четыре источника сходятся в том, что направление изменения (снижение/повышение) не раскрыто.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What will the conscription age be after the reform?
**A:** Roman Kostenko did not give specific figures. He confirmed that "some things are changing regarding the conscription age," but refused to clarify whether the limits would be lowered or raised. Official data is promised from the Ministry of Defense or the General Staff.

### Q: Will the deferment for parents of three or more children be canceled?
**A:** No. Kostenko directly refuted this rumor, stating that no corresponding legislative initiatives exist and none is planned in the near future.

### Q: Will women be mobilized?
**A:** According to Kostenko's statement, women's service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will remain exclusively voluntary. No changes in this direction are planned.

### Q: Will Ukraine switch to voluntary conscription?
**A:** No. Kostenko ruled out this scenario, emphasizing that mobilization will retain the mandatory character provided for by law.