Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on Tuesday allowing Ukrainians over 60 to join the armed forces, which are struggling to find recruits as the war launched by Russia enters its fourth year.
The law will allow them to sign a one-year contract for non-combat roles, if they pass all medical tests, according to a document published on the parliament's website.
"A growing number of citizens aged 60 or over have expressed their desire to voluntarily join the state's defense," the letter said.
"It is necessary to involve a larger number of people who want to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Ukraine has launched several initiatives to recruit more people into the armed forces – including one-year contracts and other financial incentives for people aged 18-24.
This country has also reduced the mobilization age from 27 to 25 years old, in April 2024, resisting calls from the US administration to lower it even further - to 18 years old.
The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarize Ukraine.
The West has responded to Russia by hitting the country's economy with harsh sanctions.
As a result of the war, thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced from their homes./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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