MANIPULATION: A young man who “was not even 20 years old at the time of mobilization” died — photo

Information is being spread on the Internet that allegedly in Ukraine, despite the official ban, young people of conscription age are being mobilized. The proof is allegedly a photo of the dead young man, who “was not even 20 years old at the time of mobilization.”

However, in fact, the young man in the photo has been serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine under contract since 2020.

According to the Facebook page of the Horodenkivka City Council, Illia Yermolaev died in March 2022 while performing a combat mission. Illia was 20 years old at the time of his death. However, he did not join the army through mobilization, since January 2020 the young man served under a contract.

According to the Law of Ukraine “On Military Duty and Military Service”, there are three military records in Ukraine: conscripts, persons liable for military service and reservists. Reservists and persons liable for military service are called up for military service during mobilization. Therefore, men of conscription age (18-27 years old) cannot be involved in military service as mobilized, since they do not have the status of persons liable for military service. However, they can voluntarily join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or go to service under a contract. In Ukraine, citizens from 18 to 45 years old (in a special period —up to 60 years old) are accepted for military service under a contract.

In addition, conscription for military service begins at the age of 18. The service itself lasts up to 18 months, that is, one and a half years. After completing their military service, men already receive the status of persons liable for military service and are subject to mobilization in the event of its announcement. So a 20-year-old man who served in the army immediately after school is a person liable for military service and can be mobilized. Also persons liable for military service are men of conscription age who completed the military department while studying at a university and became reserve officers.