Main points
- Men aged 50 to 60 can be mobilized on general terms, taking into account their health, for service in support units, such as drivers, logisticians, and logistics personnel.
- Mobilization of this age group occurs only in cases of shortage of specialties or for rear units, and this practice is not enshrined in law.
- The law allows for the mobilization of men between the ages of 25 and 60, while mobilization is not carried out after the age of 60, with the possibility of extending service for up to 5 years after reaching that age.
- The age limit for service depends on the military rank, for example, privates can serve up to 45 years, and senior officers up to 60 or 65 years.
Mobilization of men over 50: what the law says / Getty Images
Information is spreading online that men aged 50 to 60 are not mobilized. Does the CCC have the right to mobilize such men and under what conditions?
The mobilization of this category of citizens continues, but with certain nuances. Channel 24 has investigated this issue.
What are the rules for mobilization of men over 50 years old?
The Volyn CCC clarified that there is no ban on the mobilization of men aged 50 to 60. Their mobilization is carried out on general terms, taking into account their health status.
The CCC clarified that there is a document that regulates the mobilization of this category of citizens, but it is intended exclusively for official use.
The media spread a directive that supposedly mobilization of men over 50 years old would not be carried out. Lawyer Yevhen Filipets noted that this information is not true, and such cases of mobilization continue.
Citizens over 50 years of age who are not exempt from military service due to health reasons or other legal grounds are subject to mobilization on general terms .
As he notes, the directive of the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine provides that 50-60-year-olds should be mobilized into support units according to their physical and psycho-emotional condition. However, even among the support units there are units that operate directly in the combat zone, which causes some misunderstanding among the mobilized.
According to Larysa Kozak, deputy head of the RTCC and SP in Kyiv, men over the age of 50 who are mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine usually occupy positions in support units. That is, they become drivers, logisticians, and logistics workers. From her experience, she can say that no one over the age of 50 was sent directly to combat positions .
Important! Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense, People's Deputy Fedir Venislavskyi, clarified that mobilization after 50 years is possible only under two conditions: if men have scarce military-accounting specialties, if it comes to rear units, for example, cooks, repairmen. It is important to note that such a practice is not enshrined in law.
The General Staff makes decisions on mobilization, taking into account its own needs.
Fedir Venislavsky explained that due to their health and physical fitness, men over 50 are simply incapable of performing combat missions. However, most military units are assault units.
According to the law, “Facts” explains, men aged 25 to 60 can be mobilized. However, men aged 18 to 24 can be mobilized if they have combat experience. They can also serve under a contract.
Men are not subject to mobilization after the age of 60. The age limit for service also depends on the military rank:
- Privates, junior sergeants, and warrant officers on contract have a maximum service age of 45 years.
- Senior sergeant and warrant officer on contract – 50 years.
- Senior sergeant and warrant officer on contract – 55 years old.
- Junior officers – 45 years old.
- Senior military officers, such as majors and lieutenant colonels, can serve up to 50 years, and colonels and captains of the 1st rank can serve up to 55 years.
- The senior officer corps has a service age limit of 60 years.
- Senior officers can serve up to 65 years of age.
If a man was mobilized and reached the age of 60 during his service, he can, if he wishes, remain in service for up to 5 more years or resign.