OP-ED

Yuri Lapaiev: New reservists law in Ukraine — a forced step forward

By Yuri Lapaiev.

Published May 11, 2021 at 7:55 am

This handout picture taken and released by the Ukrainian presidential press service on April 27, 2021 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky looking from a dug-out during his visit to the Ukrainian army's outposts in the Kherson region, on the administrative border with Russia-annexed Crimea.

Photo by president.gov.ua

On March 30, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) adopted a new law on reservists, #1357-IX, which modifies existing legislation (Rada.gov.ua, March 30). The bill was initiated by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back in May 2020, and he signed it into law a month after its adoption—on April 21—at the height of tensions with Russia caused by the latter’s massive buildup of forces along the Ukrainian border (President.gov.ua, April 21).