Too Young to Be Drafted, Old Enough to Fight

Ukrainians aged 18–24 are not required to enlist. Yet many still walk into recruitment centers on their own, choosing a year in uniform during a war that sometimes feels endless.

After three years of full-scale war, Ukraine needs a way to replenish its forces. Launched in 2025, the Contract 18–24 program offers young volunteers a one-year contract, pay, training, medical care, and the choice to leave—or stay—afterward.

ZHENYA, 19

Zhenya comes from Pokrovsk. His brother was killed in Bakhmut in 2022, leaving behind two daughters. Zhenya joined to replace those who had been holding positions for months.

MAX, 18

Max grew up watching his father fight
in 2014. By the time Russia launched its full-scale invasion, joining the army felt inevitable. Today, Max works with drones in the 39th Coastal Marine Brigade.

DENYS, 23

For months, he prepared himself quietly—training, studying medicine, learning to shoot. Then one night, the war came too close to ignore.

PAVLO, 25

Pavlo, an instructor with the 39th Coastal Marine Brigade, joined the military at 21. From infantry to UAV operator, his path shifted after a near-miss during shelling.

For some, it’s about duty. For others, loss, anger, or purpose.

One year in uniform is already shaping who these young Ukrainians are—and who they may become next.