From October 1, 2024, student mobilization will begin in Ukraine in accordance with Law No. 10449. Most students who receive their first higher education have the right to a deferment from conscription, but there are several exceptions under which a student may receive a summons.
According to lawyers Yevhen Kamyshev and Ruslan Melnik, students of draft age who study full-time or dual-track, obtaining their first higher education, benefit from a deferment. Assistant interns, graduate students and doctoral students are also not subject to conscription. Regardless of the form of study (budget or contract), the right to a deferment remains with students, but to confirm it, it is necessary to submit a certificate from the dean's office of the educational institution to the territorial recruitment center (TCK).
The exception is scientific and scientific-pedagogical workers who have a scientific degree. Teachers of vocational schools receive a deferral only if they have a main place of work at 0.75 of the rate.
When can students be drafted?
There are situations where students may be denied the right to deferment. This applies to those who:
- studies in the evening or part-time form;
- does not have a first higher education;
- receives an education lower than the one already available;
- refuses to undergo general military training.
During the holidays, students can maintain a deferral if they are transferring from one course to another. However, if a person is entering a higher education level, during the break between semesters, they are not considered a student and can be drafted.
Students over 30 years old
In 2023, a bill was registered that would eliminate the deferral for men over 30 who are studying. However, as of 2024, this law has not yet been passed, so men who are pursuing a continuous first higher education are still not subject to conscription.
Thus, in 2024, student mobilization in Ukraine will be carried out taking into account new rules that are worth knowing in order to avoid unforeseen situations.
