If the new draft law on improving mobilization and military registration with the amendments submitted to the Rada on December 25 is passed, the possible negative effect on the economy "will be difficult to overestimate." This opinion was expressed by Dmytro Natalukha, chairman of the Economic Committee, in a commentary for Forbes.
"If the final version of the bill, which will be voted on in January, forces a significant part of the population to cut off any ties with the state so that it cannot calculate, find and call them, the negative effect on the economy will be difficult to overestimate," Natalukha said.
Among the possible consequences, he names the termination of the population's work with state-owned banks, which occupy most of the market, massive cash withdrawals, transition to gray employment, which results in lower tax revenues, emigration of able-bodied women, reduced domestic logistics, and thus a decrease in economic activity, etc.
"If in 2022 a part of the population fled from a hostile state, then in case of a wrong decision in 2024 there will be a risk that Ukrainians will start fleeing from their own," said Natalukha.
In his opinion, the issue of mobilization needs to be regulated, and this requires a very frank conversation and consideration of the position of both the military and society.
"In my opinion, the first and most important thing we all need to do is to stop distinguishing between the position of the military and society. The military is fighting in the interests and at the expense of society, while society works and mobilizes resources in the interests of the military," he said.
