People with HIV and tuberculosis can be mobilized, — Ministry of Defence

Fitness for military service for people with HIV is determined by the stage of the disease. Individuals with asymptomatic HIV carriage or stable disease are deemed fit for military service.

This was reported by a representative of the Ministry of Defence, Dmytro Lazutkin, during a television marathon.

Lazutkin commented on the publication by Member of Parliament Oleksandr Fediyenko, where he noted that the updated Minister of Defence order No. 402 led to the mobilization of individuals with hearing impairments, mental illnesses, HIV, and tuberculosis.

"It’s important to consider that the main criterion for fitness for military service is the functionality of the individual, determined according to regulatory legal acts. This means that each case is evaluated separately depending on the state of health and specifics of the diseases," said Lazutkin.

Lazutkin explained that for individuals with HIV or tuberculosis, fitness for service is assessed based on how the disease affects their ability to perform military tasks.

"Fitness for military service for individuals with HIV is determined by the stage of the disease. Asymptomatic carriage or stable condition is one thing, and individuals with such characteristics can serve. This means that they have the right to defend their country and can do so," said Lazutkin.

According to him, individuals with HIV at the stage of immune subcompensation are only fit for service in rear units, where there is no need to perform combat tasks.

"Immune decompensation is another story. People whose HIV has led to decompensation are unfit for military service and are excluded from military registration," noted Lazutkin. According to him, there are also clear criteria for individuals with tuberculosis that the health department has prescribed very carefully. "Active tuberculosis, at least of the lungs with the release of mycobacteria or cavity formation in the lung tissue, automatically makes a person unfit for military service," emphasized Lazutkin.