Ukraine Expands Military Eligibility Amid High Casualties

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has updated its list ofdiseases and conditions, allowing individuals with certain health conditions, including HIV, cancer, tuberculosis, and substance addictions, to join the Ukrainian military. The move comes as the country faces significant losses in its ongoing conflict with Russia, with daily casualties in April reportedly reaching 1,000 soldiers.

Why this matters: The expansion of military eligibility criteria highlights the desperation and severity of Ukraine's situation in its conflict with Russia, and underscores the need for drastic measures to bolster itsmilitary capabilities. This move may set a precedent for other countries to reconsider their own military eligibility criteria in the face of similar crises.

The new draft rules, published by the Defense Ministry in Kiev on Friday, eliminate the status of 'partial eligibility' for military service. Individuals previously qualified as 'partially eligible' will now be required to undergo a new evaluation by a military medical commission. Military officials will assess the health of draftees to determine their suitability for frontline service or less demanding roles in the rear.

Under the updated eligibility criteria, only tuberculosis sufferers with serious lung damage and an active infection threat will be rejected. Individuals with less serious active illness will be ordered to undergo a new examination within six months. Those deemed "clinically treated" will be given less demanding roles, while patients with "residue changes after a treated tuberculosis" can be sent to the frontline.

Cancer patients and HIV-positive individuals in remission are now considered suitable for some or all military positions, depending on their functional ability. Those suffering from "rare" episodes of schizophrenia or a "mild" substance addiction are deemed fit to perform non-combat duties. PTSD patients will only be fully rejected if they suffer from "expressed serious" problems and will be temporarily barred from duty after a recent episode.

The expanded eligibility comes as Ukraine faces mounting casualties in its conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed earlier this year that Ukraine had suffered 31,000 troop fatalities, a figure disputed by Western media and Russian officials. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu estimated on Friday that Ukrainian military casualties this year alone have surpassed 111,000.

The Ukrainian military plans to enroll hundreds of thousands of additional troops, citing the need for exhausted soldiers on the frontline to rotate and rest. However, the government has stated that there will be no demobilization as long as the conflict with Russia lasts. The updated eligibility rules aim to increase the pool of potential recruits as Ukraine seeks to bolster its military capabilities in the face of significant losses and an ongoingwar.

Key Takeaways

• Ukraine updates military eligibility criteria to include individuals with HIV, cancer, TB, and substance addictions.
• New rules aim to bolster military capabilities amid significant losses in conflict with Russia.
• TB sufferers with serious lung damage and active infection threat will be rejected, others will be reassessed.
• Cancer patients and HIV-positive individuals in remission can serve in some or all military positions.
• Ukraine seeks to enroll hundreds of thousands of additional troops to rotate and rest exhausted soldiers.