Four people have been killed after Russian shelling hit an area on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The shelling comes just a day after new mobilisation law came into effect which drops the age at which men can be drafted into the army from 27 to 25.

Kharkiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

After more than two years of intense conflict, Ukraine's military is facing significant shortages in both weapons and personnel. In response, a new mobilisation law has been enacted. This law lowers the conscription age from 27 to 25 and offers financial incentives to encourage enlistment. The change has been met with mixed reactions among the population and military community alike.

Mammoth, a military drone pilot who joined the war at 22 without prior experience, supports the new law but acknowledges its unpopularity. He believes that hard decisions are necessary for Ukraine to continue its defense efforts. While Mammoth feels the law came just in time, others are less optimistic, voicing concerns over potential business impacts and questioning the efficiency of training new recruits under the current circumstances.

Critics argue that the law might be too little, too late, as estimates suggest that Ukraine needs at least 100,000 new troops to counter advancing Russian forces. Some worry that rapid mobilisation could lead to widespread business closures if a significant number of employees are drafted. Coyote, another soldier, thinks the conscription age should have been lowered even further, emphasizing that those not affected by the draft are often the ones who criticize it. Despite its criticisms, proponents believe the law is crucial for maintaining Ukraine's military strength.

Russian shelling recently caused the deaths of four individuals in Kharkiv, underscoring the ongoing severity of the conflict. This incident highlights the continued urgency for Ukraine to bolster its armed forces.



Ukraine starts conscripting younger men

After more than two years of war, weapons supplies are heavily depleted and so are personnel. For some of the soldiers on Ukraine's front line, a new mobilisation law couldn't come sooner. It should have been done earlier in my humble opinion. Mammoth is a military drone pilot who says he went to war aged 22 without experience. But step by step his commander taught him the skills he needed. This mobilisation law is not popular. I won't say for everyone but for many. Of course people are scared, this is normal. But decisions have to be made and we have to fight. The law which came into effect on Saturday includes a clause that lowers the conscription age to join the army from 27 to 25 and offers financial incentives to encourage more troops. Some critics are worried it will lead to businesses closing if the majority of their staff are mobilised. Others are concerned that it will take too long to train new troops and that it is too little, too late. With some estimates saying at least 100,000 new troops are needed to repel Russia's advancing forces. For Coyote, the law could have gone a step further. Who criticises it? Civilians? Only civilians who don't see themselves in the army. They don't have a war. But I think it's normal, starting from the age of 25, I would have made the age even lower. But while the law may be unpopular, these soldiers say that without it they could risk losing the war.

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Paris

Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics underway after Opening Ceremony

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Taipei

Cargo crew rescued from Typhoon Gaemi

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Chico

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Tsim Sha Tsui

Climate Crisis

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El Paso

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France rail network attacked before Olympics

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Fujian

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Washington

Israel-Gaza War

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Miranda

Man with knife and explosives arrested at Westfield

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Canberra

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Dhaka

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Manila

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Ukraine Invasion