Kiev, Ukraine—— Ukraine is in the final stages of drafting recruitment reforms to attract 18- to 25-year-olds currently exempt from mobilization, a field commander recently appointed to the presidential office said, as the country looks for ways to boost its fighting capacity.

In his first interview with foreign media since taking office last fall, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, deputy chief of the presidential office, said Ukraine was exploring new recruitment options because the current conscription system inherited from the Soviet era was hampering progress.

Although Ukraine passed a mobilization law last spring and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25, the measures have not had the impact needed to replenish its ranks or make up for battlefield losses in the war with Russia.

One of the initiatives, which Palissa calls "Honesty Contracts," includes financial incentives, clear training guarantees and measures to ensure dialogue between soldiers and their commanders. The plan is intended to appeal mainly to older military personnel aged 18 to 25, currently exempt from conscription, and will also target Ukrainians who have the right to defer or be dismissed after the conscription law is passed.

"To ensure the safety of unit commanders and contractors, it's important to have an open and professional relationship between them and set clear boundaries that both parties understand," he said Wednesday. "I think that's critical to effective dialogue. ”

Palisa said the effort, which is in its final stages, could help respond to calls from the Biden and Trump administrations that Ukraine expand its manpower by lowering the draft age.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been staunchly opposed to the introduction of compulsory mobilization from the age of 18, saying that doing so would fundamentally affect the future prospects of the war-torn country.

"My view so far is that we need to start having an open dialogue with society," Palisa said. "Because defending the country is not just the responsibility of the armed forces. It is the duty of every Ukrainian citizen and their obligation."

Palisa said his office is working with the Cabinet and Defense Department to review why mobilization efforts fell short.

"We actually have tremendous mobilization resources. I think that is currently more than we need to be able to handle certain tasks on the front lines right now," he said. "Our current mechanisms don't allow us to be as effective as we should be."

Palisa, who was brought straight from the battlefield to the presidential office, sees his appointment as an attempt to address systemic problems within the military. Part of a new generation of Ukrainian military leadership, he was studying at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College when Russia launched a full-scale invasion.

In the summer of 2022, he graduated remotely while fighting on the front line. He subsequently commanded the 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" during the nine-month Battle of Bakhmut.

"This is a unique opportunity to bring the nation's highest leadership attention to pressing military issues," he said, adding that he planned to return to the battlefield once the mission was completed.

As Russia continues to make advances in the Donetsk region, some analysts point to structural weaknesses in Ukraine's chain of command and poor communication among front-line troops as key factors in its difficulty in holding territory along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front. .

Ukraine’s military has expanded significantly since Moscow began its full-scale invasion, but years of resisting Russian advances have left little time for strategic management — a gap that may now jeopardize Ukraine’s chances of success.

Palisa said reforms were urgently needed to improve coordination and effectiveness.

"(We need to) adapt our structures to the logic of modern warfare, which will make us more effective and prevent us from repeating the same mistakes," he said. "This is what needs to be done. There is no other way."