‘Destroying Infrastructure Indispensable to Survival Is a War Crime’ – Ukraine at War Update for Dec. 2

As Ukraine grapples with mounting challenges on the frontlines, President Volodymyr Zelensky presses EU leaders for continued aid and NATO membership, while Ukrainian forces call for more weapons to address manpower shortages, and a devastating missile strike on critical infrastructure is now condemned as a war crime by Amnesty International.

“We Stand With Ukraine”

Zelensky urged NATO to offer Ukraine a formal invitation to join the alliance after meeting with EU leaders in Kyiv over the weekend. 

He emphasized that membership is crucial for his country’s survival in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. “An invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is a necessary thing for our survival,” Zelensky declared during talks with European Union leaders in Kyiv on Sunday, per AFP.

The Ukrainian president has repeatedly stressed the importance of NATO membership to bolster his country’s security and ensure long-term stability. His remarks come as the armed forces struggle to find the manpower and weapons needed to push back Russian forces as the country faces a winter with much-reduced energy infrastructure. 

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Zelensky has also made it clear that Ukraine requires additional security guarantees and military assistance from NATO before considering peace talks with Russia. “Only when we have all these items and we are strong, after that, we have to make the very important... agenda of the meeting with one or another of the killers,” he said. His statement underscores the belief that Ukraine needs to be in a position of strength before engaging in any negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky’s remarks were made during a high-profile meeting with the European Union’s top diplomats on Sunday. Kaja Kallas, the newly appointed EU foreign affairs chief, and Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, were both in Kyiv for their first official visit in their new roles. 

The visit by Kallas and Costa highlights the European Union’s ongoing efforts to reinforce its diplomatic and military support for Ukraine. Costa, speaking to media outlets during the visit, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Ukraine. “We came to give a clear message that we stand with Ukraine, and we continue to give our full support,” he said.

No Need to Lower Draft Age

Ukraine currently has enough manpower with the current pool of men aged 25 and older, according to comments made by military officials on Sunday. The conclusion would mean there is no need to lower the draft age or otherwise significantly alter mobilization, as has recently been suggested.

Ivan Tymochko, the head of the Council of Reservists in Ukraine’s Ground Forces, reassured the public that the current pool of eligible recruits is more than adequate to meet the military’s needs.

“If we have a sufficient volume of weapons and equipment in systemic supplies for Ukraine, I am sure that the discussion of lowering the draft age will not stand as such because modern warfare is, first of all, about a war of tech,” Tymochko explained, per Ukriniform. He emphasized that the focus of modern warfare has shifted toward technology and advanced systems, not solely on the number of troops.

Tymochko noted that Ukraine’s military currently accepts men aged 18 to 60 for service, with the official draft age starting at 25. He highlighted that the threshold for conscription had already been reduced from 27 to 25 years. However, Tymochko stressed that the need to lower the draft age further would only arise if the available manpower from the 25 to 60 age range were fully exhausted.

“If someone speaks of lowering the draft age, we would have to be able to explain that there is no resource in the age category of 25, 55 or 60,” he said. “That is, everyone is either reserved from service at this age or deployed at the front. All students at this age are already at the front – there is absolutely no male resource.”

When pressed about whether the military’s manpower reserves were nearly exhausted, Tymochko assured the public, “It’s far from exhausted,” he said. 

While the representative dismissed the immediate need to lower the draft age, he also emphasized the importance of broader military training for the population, particularly for citizens aged 18 to 25. This demographic will undergo mandatory military training starting January 1, 2025, a measure intended to bolster Ukraine’s overall defense readiness.

“As for the training of the population. Basic and professional training of citizens from 18 to 25 is not about mobilization, it is about the general education of the population,” Tymochko said, noting that the training would focus on preparing citizens for potential future service without immediately requiring them to join the military.

Local governments, according to Tymochko, will play a key role in organizing and overseeing this training. Civilian officials, including district deputies and city mayors, will be responsible for managing recruitment and training programs. “Let’s not confuse recruits with cadets. Cadets study in educational facilities. As for recruits, they will complete the training course and go home and back to their jobs,” he added.

Massive Missile Strike Deemed a War Crime

Amnesty International has condemned Russia‘s recent missile and drone assault on Ukraine, describing it as a deliberate attack on critical civilian infrastructure and a clear violation of international law.

The Nov. 28 strike targeted key energy facilities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Lviv, and the far-western regions of Lutsk and Rivne. The attack led to widespread damage, with explosions reported in over a dozen locations and emergency blackouts affecting more than a million homes.

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, sharply criticized Russia’s actions, saying, “This morning, Russia unleashed one of its most extensive missile attacks on Ukraine in months, alongside numerous drones, making already insufferable conditions even more unbearable.”

Struthers emphasized that these strikes are part of a broader strategy aimed at crippling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the winter months, which she described as a clear attempt to inflict maximum suffering on civilians.

The airstrikes targeted energy generation and distribution systems, cutting off essential services such as electricity, heating, and water, as winter temperatures continue to drop. As Struthers noted, “Critical facilities across multiple regions... have been damaged.” Ukraine’s state grid operator confirmed the imposition of emergency blackouts to prevent further damage and stabilize the energy system. Amnesty International has labeled these attacks war crimes. 

“Deliberately attacking civilian objects and destroying infrastructure indispensable to the survival of the civilian population are war crimes,” Struthers said.

Struthers further emphasized the disproportionate effect these strikes have on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients in hospitals, who are particularly at risk in freezing conditions. “Russia’s actions clearly appear designed to inflict suffering on the civilian population, creating life-threatening conditions,” she said.

In her statement, Struthers called on the international community to take immediate action, urging global powers to support Ukraine’s humanitarian needs and hold those responsible for war crimes accountable. “Russia must stop its war of aggression in Ukraine, and immediately end its attacks on civilian infrastructure,” Struthers concluded.