The systemic problem with mobilization in Ukraine is a deadly threat to national security and the existence of the state as a whole, said Oleksii Ivashyn, coordinator of the initiative group for the creation of the Civil-Military Movement (CMM), during a public discussion “Mobilization and Trust: How to Reduce Conflict and Restore Predictability” held on April 17 at the Interfax-Ukraine press center.

Ivashyn presented the practical dimension of the concept of defense democracy, one of the developers of which is the Civil-Military Movement. According to the coordinator of the Civil-Military Movement, the principle “Serve or help!” should become the moral and legal basis of a new social contract, where every citizen has his or her own form of participation in the defense of the state, and each such form is equivalent.

“Defensive democracy is a fair distribution of the burden of war among all segments of the population. Selectivity acts to increase the degree of tension in society, increases the feeling of apathy, injustice and hatred towards their own state and its representatives. Therefore, the failure of mobilization that we are witnessing is a deadly threat to national security and the existence of the state as a whole,” he emphasized.

Ivashyn emphasized that without bridging the gap between the front and the rear, social unity will remain fragile, which the enemy will try to exploit.

He also emphasized the need for strict control over the activities of territorial recruitment and social support centers’ employees.

“In case of violations of the law, territorial recruitment and social support centers’ officials must be punished, without exception,” said the coordinator of the Civil-Military Movement.

Ivashyn paid special attention to material incentives for the military, proposing to introduce adequate one-time payments during mobilization and to double the amount of financial support for active servicemen at least twice, to introduce a guaranteed social package for the families of mobilized soldiers.

“Enemy propaganda does not create conflicts from scratch. It parasitizes on the mistakes of our state institutions. We must recognize and correct these mistakes, as well as punish those who have broken the law and committed offenses. But it is also fair to distribute the burden between the front and the rear, so that everyone can contribute to the victory. This is what will help achieve cohesion and unity in society. Because when we are united by a common idea, we are strong and we will survive,” Ivashyn summarized.

The discussion was attended by members of the Ukrainian parliament, representatives of think tanks, active military personnel and veterans of the russian-Ukrainian war.

The event was organized by the InfoLight.UA Research and Analysis Group, a joint project of the NGO “Foundation for Promotion of Democracy” and the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Ukraine.

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