Russian targets Ukraine’s 18–24 Contract program with fake about fallen 20-year-old soldier

The Center for Countering Disinformation reported the information.

Russian Telegram channels are spreading a fake obituary of an allegedly 20-year-old serviceman named Volodymyr with the call sign 'Luntik,' claiming he died on March 24.

“In reality, Volodymyr Luntik is alive,” write the analysts.

Propagandists used a photo of another fallen soldier and inserted Luntik’s face into it. Moreover, contract servicemen under the 18–24 program are still undergoing training and are not participating in combat operations.

Contract for Ukrainians aged 18–24: what is known

In October 2024, the President’s Office stated that the U.S. was pressuring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to lower the mobilization age. However, the President later said that before lowering the mobilization age, brigades need to be fully staffed.

“We’ve heard many signals regarding the mobilization age from representatives of the former U.S. administration and some NATO countries. I won’t give an exact number, but we have over a hundred brigades, and each one needs to be staffed daily, with equipment – armored and artillery,” Zelenskyy said.

In December 2024, MP Fedir Venislavskyi said that there were no legislative initiatives to lower the mobilization age from 25 to 18.

At the same time, the Center for Countering Disinformation stated that it is impossible to mobilize 18-year-old students in Ukraine after basic military training. “Mobilization starts at age 25. Therefore, the mobilization of 18-year-old students after basic military training is fundamentally impossible,” said its head, Andrii Kovalenko.

In January 2025, the President’s Office announced that changes to legislation and presidential decrees would soon be proposed to allow the conscription of men aged 18 to 25.

Later, MP and member of the Defense Committee Fedir Venislavskyi said that the state plans to encourage young men under 25 to voluntarily join the military. According to him, Ukraine will not offer better financial terms for new contract soldiers compared to those already serving, but may provide one-time payments upon signing a contract.

On February 10, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainians aged 18 to 24 who sign contracts to serve in the Defense Forces could earn 1 million UAH within a year. Additional bonuses are also provided.

On February 11, the Defense Ministry released details of service conditions for volunteers aged 18–24 in the Armed Forces.