KIEV, January 19. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed on Monday a decree on partial mobilization that has been endorsed by the national parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

The Rada on January 15 approved Poroshenko’s decree on another phase of partial mobilization. The president signed this decree on January 14. The Ukrainian head of state said that new recruits would not be sent to the military operation zone in the east of the country.

According to the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council’s decision of December 20, 2014, the fourth phase of mobilization will be launched on January 20 and another two phases will be held in April and June. Some categories of draft-age persons, in particular, citizens unfit for military service, students and postgraduates, clergy, parents of three and more children, residents of territories not controlled by Ukrainian authorities will be exempt from mobilisation.

On January 8, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said that some 104,000 people might be mobilized in 2015, if necessary. Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Vladimir Talalai said that women aged 25 through 50 might be drafted into the army, if necessary.