Analysis of mobilization bill and how spare parts for Hawk air defense systems will help Ukraine. Column by Serhiy Zgurets

Ukraine needs its air defense to be strengthened

Yesterday Russia attacked the Odesa region once again. In particular, using various types of weapons. At night, the invaders attacked with Shaheds, and closer to dawn, the enemy used ballistic weapons. Such attacks on Odesa and other Ukrainian cities require strengthening Ukraine's Air Defense Forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not have enough existing air defense systems to cover all our cities. In particular, he spoke about Patriot systems. Today, Ukraine has only three such systems. According to Zelenskyy's estimates, Ukraine needs 25 divisions of Patriot systems to cover the country completely. By the way, no other European country has this number. However, an initiative to find these air defense systems for Ukraine has already been announced.

The US approves emergency sale of Hawk air defense spare parts to Ukraine worth $138 million

The United States has the most Patriot systems. However, Washington is in no hurry to transfer these air defense systems to Ukraine. There is some positive news. On April 9, the US State Department decided to approve the sale of Hawk missile system support systems and related logistics to Ukraine. The estimated value of this deal is $138 million. Ukraine received the first Hawk systems in 2022. In October 2023, we could see a video of the system being used. It took place near Odesa and these systems were working on Russian Shahed UAVs. Although the Hawk is a rather archaic system, it has quite decent technical characteristics. In particular, this system can destroy enemy targets at a distance of more than 50 km and at an altitude of 20 km. The biggest advantage of the Hawk system is that it has a sufficient number of missiles. In particular, more than 40,000 of them. The US State Department's decision allows for systematic repair and modernization of this system, which can significantly improve its capabilities. This decision gives the green light to cooperation between Ukrainian companies and American ones. Accordingly, it will increase Ukraine's ability to defend its territory and critical infrastructure.

Ukrainian parliament begins consideration of draft law on mobilization

Major Pavlo Kyshkar, Deputy Battalion Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Head of the Defense Ministry’s Accelerator Project Office, believes that Ukrainian society cannot accept a system of coercion, and therefore does not accept the current law on mobilization. According to him, the entire draft law on mobilization, which is currently being considered in parliament, boils down to two points: reducing the conscription age and expanding the powers of the Territorial Recruitment Center. The issue of reservations for mobilization was not properly regulated. Kyshkar noted that under the new draft law, almost all institutions can reserve their employees. He emphasized that this issue cannot be progressed or succeeded in an evolutionary way. According to Kyshkar, it would be important to consider electronic summonses and the register of persons liable for military service in the new draft law. Another important point would be to completely abandon the possibility of booking employees. In his opinion, all draft laws on mobilization are based on the ideology of a large Soviet army rather than a volunteer army.

Pavlo Kyshkar noted that today there are negative and positive elements of incentives for people to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Among the positive ones, he mentioned financial rewards and the possibility of receiving a land plot. Among the negative ones are restrictions if a person refuses to join the military. According to Kyshkar, the main problem with the draft law on mobilization is that it simply forgot about mid-level commanders. Since they are responsible for everything, responsible for material assets and people, such commanders are simply not included in the mobilization process.

The draft law on mobilization should not affect the functioning of the economy

Pavlo Kyshkar believes that the draft law on mobilization should not be considered without representatives of business and the economy. According to him, it is impossible to take people out of business and demand that the economy continue to work. Perhaps, as Kyshkar noted, the state will start with itself. There are several dozen government agencies in Ukraine that can be disbanded during the war. If a bill is needed to close several executive bodies, it should be adopted. Kyshkar emphasized that perhaps it is necessary to start by mobilizing men between the ages of 25 and 60 who work in government agencies. He believes that government officials can be replaced by people who are not fit for military service. If the military can be trained in three months and sent to the front, then it is also possible to teach a person to manage local government in such a period. The same applies to law enforcement. Kyshkar believes that the Ministry of Internal Affairs should set a time frame within which all employees working in the system must undergo military service. There should not be a situation where some are fighting and others are not.

Pavlo Kyshkar is convinced that the decision to mobilize convicts is the right one. However, they forgot to take into account people who are waiting for a court decision on their criminal cases. There are more than 10,000 men who are liable for military service. Most of them are abroad, but they are ready to return. However, the state does not motivate them to return.