Serbia’s Minister of Defense, Bratislav Gašić, stated that conditions have been created for the reintroduction of mandatory military service, which will last 75 days. He added that the exact start date will depend on global developments, with December this year or March 2027 being considered as possible timelines.
Gašić explained that the plan includes 60 days of training in barracks and an additional 15 days of field training. Despite criticism over the relatively short duration, he emphasized that recruits will still gain valuable skills.
“We didn’t choose 75 days randomly. The army is a school of life, and recruits will certainly learn things that will be useful to them in the future,” Gašić said during an appearance on K1 television.
He added that after completing their initial training, conscripts will be invited to participate in military exercises in subsequent years to reinforce their knowledge.
According to Gašić, preparing facilities for training soldiers is a complex task. He noted that in recent years, Serbia has created the necessary conditions to reintroduce conscription through investments in equipment, infrastructure, and logistics.
He highlighted the recovery of the company Yumco in Vranje, which had previously faced strikes and financial difficulties, but now employs around 2,200 workers and operates stably. He also said that military warehouses are fully stocked with energy supplies, food, equipment, weapons, uniforms, boots, and all other necessities for training new soldiers.
Speaking about the protection of critical infrastructure amid current global tensions, Gašić pointed to the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility, which holds Serbia’s strategic gas reserves.
“The army is carrying out this task with great dedication. The 72nd Special Brigade has been deployed there, along with air defense units. Around the world, critical infrastructure is under threat—oil and gas reserves are particularly vulnerable. In the past ten days, many such facilities have been targeted in Iran and across the Middle East. We want to act preventively and secure our facilities, following orders from the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief,” Gašić said.
The decision to “unfreeze” mandatory military service comes amid a deteriorating global security environment, as more countries are reintroducing conscription.
