05:36 GMT +3 hours20 April 2016
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Ukrainian soldiers

Any Takers? Ukraine Seeks Volunteers After Mobilization Fails Again

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Ukraine's Defense Ministry has announced that it will seek volunteers by creating a series of regional centers, as it faces persistent problems with its personnel.

Ukraine's Defense Ministrer Stepan Poltorak announced plans to create a network of centers to seek people who are willing to voluntarily join the Ukrainian military.

"Specialists at these centers will take part in an active search for Ukrainian citizens who decided to voluntarily join the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

Ukrainian soldiers
© Photo: http://codename-it.livejournal.com
Ukrainian soldiers

Ukraine's military has been struggling with both recruitment and quality of personnel, as four waves of mobilization succeeded in recruiting what an advisor to the Ukrainian President called "alcoholics and dodgers, drug addicts and morons." On Monday, the Ukrainian-controlled town of Konstantinovka rose up after drunk Ukrainian solders on an armoured vehicle ran over and killed a child and severely injured the child's mother.

"Studying past experience, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's leadership has concluded that the most effective personnel for fulfilling military assignments are those who voluntarily decided to join the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," according to the statement.

The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine broke out in April 2014, with Kiev forces fighting Donbas independence supporters. In early 2015, the violence surged, increasing the death toll among the civilian population.

On February 15, a ceasefire came into force in eastern Ukraine. According to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the truce has so far been effective.

Related:
Open Door Policy: Ukrainian Army Recruiting 'Addicts, Alcoholics, Morons'
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Donbas Special Status Law Deadlocks Peace Talks in Ukraine - DPR Negotiator
Tags:
volunteers, mobilization, Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Stepan Poltorak, Ukraine
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