In the draft recommendations of the group, which is headed by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Ermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Ukraine is also recommended to have "Rapid Reaction Forces capable of effectively and powerfully responding to violations of territorial integrity".KIEV, September 13.
/tass/. The Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine should consist of all civilians of the country over the age of 18 to "ensure security" in the long term. This is stated on Tuesday on the website of the Ukrainian president in the draft recommendations of the international group on security guarantees.
"To protect Ukraine for a longer term, Ukraine will need: <...> Territorial Defense Forces that would include all civilians aged 18 and over," the document says. "Following the model of countries with mandatory military conscription, Ukraine should maintain a sufficiently large Territorial defense Force, including reservists who can be called up for military service."
In the draft recommendations of the group, which is headed by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Ermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Ukraine is also recommended to have "Rapid Reaction Forces capable of effectively and powerfully responding to violations of territorial integrity." It is also recommended to have a large-scale training program and joint exercises of the Ukrainian armed forces and partners on the territory of Ukraine with the involvement of foreign instructors and advisers from NATO and EU countries.
The authors of the document also recommend that potential guarantor countries provide Ukraine with modern defense systems to protect key settlements and borders by deploying air and sea missile defense, cyber capabilities, and advanced radar systems. The document also recommends that Kiev be granted access to EU funding programs for the development of Ukraine's defense industry sector according to NATO standards and the development of new defense capabilities jointly with EU member states.
On January 1, 2022, on the basis of the law "On the Foundations of National Resistance", the Territorial Defense Forces became a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the moment, it is assumed that citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 can join them, regardless of gender or military experience.