This is the final decision about reintroduction of compulsory military service in Serbia

Photo: Ministry of Defense

Minister of Defense Bratislav Gasic said today that conditions have been created for the reintroduction of compulsory military service in Serbia, which will last 75 days, and that whether this will start from December this year or March 2027 will depend on the development of the situation in the world and global circumstances.

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Gasic said that 60 days will be spent on training soldiers in the barracks, and 15 days on field training, and pointed out that, regardless of the criticism about the duration of military service, future soldiers will be able to learn many useful things.

"We didn't just randomly pick 75 days. The Army is a teacher of life, and they will certainly be able to learn a lot that will be useful in their lives going forward," Gasic told K1 TV.

He added that after the completion of training, the recruits will be called up for military exercises over the following few years in order to complete the acquired knowledge.

The minister pointed out that in previous years, conditions have been created to reintroduce conscription, through investments in equipment, infrastructure and logistics.

"All of that had to be done. Yumco (textile factory) in Vranje was on its knees, there were strikes, and the Serbian Army and the Ministry of Defense did a lot to allow Yumco to hire 2,200 workers and create stable jobs. Our warehouses are full today. The warehouses are filled with fuel, we were tasked with increasing some stocks by over 200 percent. The food warehouses are full, warehouses storing equipment, rifles, uniforms, boots and everything that is needed for the training of young soldiers," Gasic said.

Speaking about critical infrastructure facilities now being secured by the Serbian Army due to the current global situation, Gasic said that the large gas storage facility in Banatski Dvor is one of them, which holds gas reserves for the whole of Serbia.

"The Army is very dedicated to that. The 72nd Special Brigade has been deployed there, along with air defense units. All over the world, critical infrastructure is at risk, oil and gas reserves are at risk everywhere. In the last 10 days in Iran and the Middle East, mostly such structures have been targeted. We want to act preventively and secure our facilities by order of the President of the Republic and the Supreme Commander of the Army," said Gasic.

The minister added that the Army will also protect other important facilities in Serbia.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)