Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has denounced what he called chronic corruption in the nation's medical exemptions from military duty, claiming that the system was prone to massive bribery and the exodus of individuals abroad.
According to Zelenskyy, payments ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 were given in exchange for medical exemptions from military service.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the country on Wednesday that all cases of medical exemptions from duty since the start of Russia's assault on Ukraine - where there are suspicions - would be scrutinised.
After February 24, a sizable number of military medical commission rulings on disability and fitness for military duty needed to be reviewed, according to Zelenskyy.
According to him, since Russia's invasion, the number of persons who had their names removed from the military register as a result of medical commission rulings had "increased tenfold" in various parts of Ukraine.
"The implications of these judgements are quite evident. Decisions that were corrupt," the president remarked.
He stated that a list of Ukrainians who had left the country as a result of "obviously dubious decisions" made by the military medical commissions will be examined separately.
Zelenskyy also criticised the "concept of so-called limited fitness" for enabling "manipulation" in the staffing of some Ukrainian military formations, particularly combat brigades.
98.138 SRY