Ukrainian citizens over the age of 60 will be able to voluntarily enlist in the Ukrainian army while martial law is in effect. A law to this effect was signed on Tuesday by Kiev leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, IPN reports.

According to the new law, “seniors over 60 years old can sign a one-year military contract, if they are admitted by a medical commission and approved by the unit commander.” Candidates for the position of officer must also be approved by the General Staff or relevant military authorities, writes The Kyiv Independent.

Each recruit will undergo a two-month probationary period. If after this period they are deemed unfit, their contract can be terminated early. According to the law, there is no maximum age limit for military service, but all contracts will be automatically canceled once martial law expires.

Ukraine lowered the recruitment age from 27 to 25 in April 2024. And in February this year, Kiev introduced one-year contracts for volunteers aged 18 to 24, with additional financial incentives. The new law is expected to help address staff shortages in technical, logistical and support units, where experienced professionals are in high demand.