Ukraine Approves Law to Involve Entire Population in Countering (Russian) "Aggressor"

The Ukrainian government has approved a law to create a system of national resistance with involvement of the entire population in counteracting the (Russian) “aggressor.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law #5557 “On the Fundamentals of National Resistance” and #5558 on increasing the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, adopted by the People's Deputies on July 16, 2021.

It provides for the introduction of a system of general military training of the population, the development of territorial defense and the resistance movement. National resistance must become a nationwide affair and its measures will be carried out both in the controlled and in the occupied territories of our state. At the same time, territorial defense will be conducted throughout Ukraine outside the hostilities, and resistance will be conducted in the temporarily occupied territory, a statement released by the state arms procurement agency, Ukroboronprom, said.

In the context of the Russian Federation's continuation of its militaristic plans, such a step to unite Ukrainian society around a common cause of defending the country is critical, the statement read.

This concept envisages the activities of all defense and security forces to defend Ukraine under a single plan and under a single command. For example, the subordination of combat units and subdivisions of the National Guard to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a special period by a separate decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief will ensure their effective use for state defense. The required level of coordination between the components of the security and defense sector is achieved.

Ukrainian citizens with military service have fought against the Russian aggressor, given the opportunity to become reservists and assigned to military units and territorial defense units in the region where they live. Their experience is extremely important and can be used to defend Ukraine, Ukroboronprom said.

People without military experience will also be able to defend their homeland, as they will be able to become fighters of volunteer units of territorial communities after passing medical, professional and psychological selection and signing a contract of a volunteer of territorial defense.

Also, all members of the territorial defense and resistance movement are provided with full-fledged social and legal protection, provided by the Law of Ukraine.