In May 2024, Ukrainian politicians made significant changes to the legislation related to mobilization. According to the new rules, which will come into force on May 1, men aged 25 to 65 who have been recognized by the military medical commission as fit for service in the army will be subject to mobilization. However, the new legislation provides for certain exceptions.
According to the new law, which entered into force on May 18, the postponement of mobilization will be granted to the following categories of citizens:
- Persons who were deemed unfit for service due to health or age.
- State employees.
- Teachers working for at least 0.75 rates.
- Students.
- Persons who have been booked in accordance with current legislation.
- Men with many children.
- Parents who raise children independently.
- Persons raising children under the age of 18 who are left without parental care.
- Citizens who care for persons who need constant care.
- Citizens who care for persons with disabilities.
- Citizens who are dependent on a minor child with a disability.
- Persons whose relatives died or went missing during the full-scale war.
In May, reservation from mobilization will be implemented for the following categories of employees:
- Employees of state authorities, local governments and other state institutions in positions necessary for their functioning.
- Enterprises, institutions and organizations that ensure the implementation of mobilization tasks.
- Enterprises, institutions and organizations that are critically important for ensuring the livelihood of the population and the economy.
- Enterprises, institutions and organizations that produce goods, perform works or provide services for the needs of the Armed Forces and other military formations.
From May 4, 2024, the status of "limited fitness" for conscripted men will be abolished in Ukraine. Now such men of mobilization age will have to undergo a repeat military medical examination within 90 days. After that, they will be divided by doctors into one of four categories:
- Fully suitable.
- Suitable for service in a higher military educational institution, technical control and protection center, support units and other units, but not suitable for service in amphibious assault troops, marines, special operations forces, special purpose units, floating warehouse, etc.
- Eligible for certain specialties (for example, candidates for admission to a higher military educational institution).
- Suitable for specific tasks.
According to the new draft law on mobilization, all conscripts, conscripts and reservists must update their data in the territorial recruitment and social support centers within 60 days after the law comes into force.
It is important to note that men will not be punished for not reporting information that military commissariat employees can obtain from open registers.
Evaders will be considered persons who avoid their civic duty to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine or update their data in the TCC. According to the new legislation, certain punishments are provided for such men.
For example, evaders may be disqualified from driving. The procedure is as follows:
- Employees of the TCC appeal to the police with a request to deliver the violator to the Military Commissariat.
- If the law enforcement officers do not respond to the appeal within five days, the TCC sends a demand to the address of registration of the conscript.
- If the person does not appear within 10 days, the TCC applies to the administrative court with a request to temporarily prohibit the evader from driving a car until he appears at the TCC.
Ukrainian conscripts who are abroad are obliged to return to Ukraine and update their profile data in order to extend the validity of their passports. After that, they can be served with a summons in Ukraine, or they can return back if there are appropriate grounds.
This can be done by the following categories of persons:
- Men who were removed from military registration due to health (except for those with limited fitness for service).
- Men who are temporarily unfit for service according to the opinion of the VLK for a period of up to 6 months.
- Men with disabilities of I-III groups.
- Men who accompany a person with a disability of I-II groups.
- Men with three or more children under 18 years of age.
- Single parents.
- Men with a permanent place of residence outside the territory of Ukraine.
- Military personnel crossing the border for treatment, rehabilitation or training.
- Drivers, railway workers and sailors who make international flights.
- Men officially engaged in volunteering.
- Men working in the field of culture, sports and coaches.
- Diplomats.
It is important to emphasize that not all men with deferment from mobilization can go abroad.
