Mobilization in November 2024: who will not be subject to conscription

Mobilization in November 2024: who will not be subject to conscription

In Ukraine, the mobilization of conscripts for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues. However, current Ukrainian legislation includes several categories of persons who are not subject to military conscription. Who is exempt from mobilization in November 2024, and what changes have occurred in the mobilization law?

Read more about this in the article from Ukrainian Kommersant.

Who will not be mobilized during martial law

Firstly, it should be noted that in Ukraine, men under the age of 25 and over the age of 60 are not mobilized. Men who have been declared unfit and have been removed from military registration are also not subject to conscription. Besides, the mobilization of women into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is conducted solely on a voluntary basis.

After amendments to the mobilization procedure that came into effect on May 18, 2024, the right to receive a deferment from conscription is granted to individuals who are enrolling in graduate programs.

At the same time, men aged 18 and over, as well as women with medical specialties, must be registered for military service. Conversely, 17-year-old men need to report to the military registration and enlistment office to obtain their military ticket.

Who has the right to a deferment from conscription

Categories of individuals entitled to a deferment from conscription include those unable to perform military service due to the following circumstances.

Unfitness due to health condition

Individuals with disabilities of I-III degrees or those declared unfit for military service cannot be mobilized.

Presence of certain family circumstances

Not subject to mobilization are:

• Individuals who have three or more children under the age of 18 dependent on them.

• Single fathers or mothers raising a child or children under the age of 18 independently.

• Individuals who are guardians, caretakers, foster parents, or caregivers of a child with a subgroup A disability under 18 years old or a disabled child.

• Individuals supporting an adult child aged 18-23 with a disability of group I or II.

• Individuals who are adoptive parents, guardians, caretakers, foster parents, or caregivers of orphaned children or children deprived of parental care under 18 years old.

• Individuals who provide ongoing care for their spouse, child, as well as parents, their own or those of the spouse, if they require care.

• Individuals with a spouse with a disability or one of a parent’s of both parties with a disability of group I or II.

• Guardians of a person with a disability declared incompetent, or individuals caring for a person with a disability of group I or II or a person requiring ongoing care (in the absence of other individuals capable of providing care).

• One of the spouses if both are in military service and have a minor child or children, as well as pregnant female military personnel.

• Individuals whose close relatives were killed or went missing during the Russo-Ukrainian war. The circle of close relatives includes spouse, son/daughter, father/mother, grandfather/grandmother, or siblings.

Learning or teaching in higher education institutions

The following categories of men are not subject to military conscription:

• Individuals studying in vocational or technical education institutions, students of higher education institutions, participants in professional pre-university programs, assistant interns, graduate students, and doctoral students (provided they are studying full-time or in dual form).

• Scientific, scientific-pedagogical, and pedagogical specialists working in scientific institutions, higher education institutions, pre-university and professional (vocational-technical) education institutions, or general secondary education institutions for at least 0.75 of a full-time workload, regardless of scientific degree or rank.

Engaging in certain activities

Not subject to mobilization are:

• Individuals employed in state bodies, as well as critical enterprises and organizations.

• Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and members of the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Reservation of military personnel employees

According to the updated mobilization law, individuals reserved by the organization for which they work cannot be called up to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. More details about the criteria for such organizations and the reservation procedure can be found in Article 25 of the Law.

Discharge of reservists into the reserve

Individuals who were mobilized and served by conscription and were discharged into the reserve (except for those assigned to the first line military operational reserve) are not subject to conscription during partial mobilization for six months from the date of discharge.

Possession of a health-based deferment

Individuals who have received a deferment of up to 6 months due to their health condition, based on the decision of a Medical Commission, cannot be mobilized.