Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ratified legislation that reduces the military mobilization age from 27 to 25.

Kyiv has suffered significant losses in combat over the past two years, while Russia has maintained a considerable manpower advantage.

This adjustment aims to bolster Ukraine's reserves by expanding the pool of eligible recruits, especially as volunteer enlistment rates have declined.

Zelensky had previously emphasized the need for an additional 500,000 soldiers.

Although the bill was passed by lawmakers in May 2023, it remained inactive until Zelensky's recent endorsement.

While the exact reason for Zelensky's decision remains unclear, he has previously expressed concerns about potential Russian military actions in the coming months.

Zelensky's approval of the legislation may signal Ukraine's efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities amid apprehensions of a Russian offensive.

Ukrainian forces had aspirations to reclaim territory seized by Russia and disrupt supply routes to Crimea. However, due to challenges such as a lack of air superiority and robust Russian defenses, Kyiv's advances stalled at the onset of winter, raising apprehensions of being outmatched by Russian forces.

Last year, Ukrainian Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskyi warned troops had already been forced to downsize some military operations because of a drop-off in foreign aid.

Ukraine has relied heavily on Western supplies, particularly on deliveries of long-range missiles and air defense systems. However, billions of pounds of US and EU aid have been held up amid political wrangles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said more than 600,000 of his troops are fighting in Ukraine but has not revealed how many have lost their lives there.

A classified US intelligence report released in December estimated that 315,000 Russian soldiers had been either killed or wounded since the war began - which it said was almost 90% of Russia's military personnel at the start of the invasion.

In February, Mr Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the start of the war, but US officials have put the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed as at least 70,000 and as many as 120,000 injured.

Noted