Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports demobilization of over 24,000 servicemen

KYIV. Apr 2 (Interfax) – Over 70% of Ukrainian servicemen recruited last spring have been demobilized, according to Taras Zabolotny, chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces human resources department for contract recruitment of sergeants.

“The demobilization process is ongoing from March 18 through May 1 on the president’s orders. Servicemen recruited last spring are being demobilized. Some, 24,400 servicemen have been dismissed from military service by now,” Zabolotny said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

In all, demobilization will apply to 35,763 servicemen: over 6,000 officers and 29,700 soldiers and sergeants.

More than 60,000 servicemen are currently deployed in the army operation zone in southeastern Ukraine, he said.