On April 11, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on mobilization, which makes significant changes to the conscription system. The law lowers the conscription age, introduces electronic cabinets for conscripts and replaces conscription with basic military training. It also provides conditions for the conscription of women into military service.
The conditions of mobilization for women mean that they can be called up for military service only with their own consent. However, all women who have a medical or pharmaceutical education must be included in the military registration. This covers medical women between the ages of 18 and 60 who are deemed medically fit for military service. However, being militarily registered does not mean automatic mobilization of women.
According to this law, women registered in the military can be called up for military service only at their own will in the event of martial law. In peacetime, they can also choose military service or reserve service only by voluntary contract.
Women with a military accounting specialty, according to the list approved by the Ministry of Defense, are not required to be automatically included in the military accounting. They can also do it voluntarily. The law also addresses gender equality in the military sector, ensuring that women have equal conditions with men in terms of contract service, conscription and military service.
As for basic military service for women, according to the law on mobilization, they can only do it voluntarily, under appropriate conditions. Just like men, women must be in good health and between the ages of 18 and 25. Both men and women have the opportunity to choose the year in which they will undergo basic military training.
Who is not included in the mandatory draft for military service?
Women have the option to resign from the service in case of pregnancy or leave to care for a child, after they have already entered it. In addition, the following are not subject to mobilization:
- wives, if both spouses are in military service and have a child under the age of 18;
- women and men raising three or more children under the age of 18 (with the condition that there is no arrears of alimony for more than three months);
- persons raising a child under the age of 18, if the second parent has died, has been deprived of parental rights, has been declared missing, or is in a place of deprivation of liberty;
- guardians or adoptive parents taking care of a child with a disability under the age of 18, or if the child is an adult with the I or II group of disabilities;
- adoptive parents caring for a child under the age of 18 who was previously an orphan;
- persons whose husbands or wives have a disability of the I or II group;
- persons whose husbands or wives have a disability of the III group, due to the loss of limbs, arms or legs, organs or due to oncology or mental disorders;
- persons whose parents have a disability of the I or II group, or whose parents of a husband or wife have a disability of the I or II group (if there are no other conscripts who can take care of them);
- in case of death or disappearance of close relatives during anti-terrorist operation or participation in hostilities during martial law;
- when close relatives were awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine".
Reserved workers, full-time students of pre-university and higher education institutions, doctoral students and interns are also not eligible for prizes.
