Ukrainians do not have the right to «just breathe the air», they must either mobilize or work. This was announced on January 18 by President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2024 (WEF) in Davos.

«This is not some complicated issue, this is a question about justice. This is not a question for women, people of immobile age or children. They are free,» the UNIAN news agency quoted Zelensky as saying.

According to him, the citizens of the country cannot «just breathe the air», they must mobilize or work.

«If you are of mobilization age, according to Ukrainian law, you must be in Ukraine. This is a fact,» Zelensky added.

Earlier, on December 25, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a new bill on mobilization in the country. According to the document, it is supposed to exclude military service as a type, and to dismiss all conscripts to the reserve. In addition, it is proposed to remove the category of limited fitness for military service, and all those already recognized as limited fit for military service will be required to undergo a medical examination again. In addition, they want to introduce basic combined arms training for all citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 25 years.

On January 11, The Times newspaper suggested that even more citizens would flee Ukraine due to a new initiative on conscription.

On that day, it became known that the draft law on mobilization in Ukraine was withdrawn from consideration by the Verkhovna Rada and returned for revision. According to the head of the faction of the Servant of the People party, David Arahamiya, this decision was made at the end of a closed meeting with the military command and a meeting of the conciliation board.

Later, on January 15, it was reported that the government would send to the Rada a new version of the draft law on strengthening mobilization within a few weeks.