Mobilization from September 1: what will change for those liable for military service

Martial law and general mobilization are in effect in Ukraine. Currently, conscripted men between the ages of 25 and 60 are subject to conscription. At the same time, the law provides for a number of cases in which a person can receive a deferment.

It is important that the reason for the postponement is not enough. It must be officially registered. Without this, the man remains a conscript who can be called up.

Who can get a deferral?

The list of grounds is defined in Article 23 of the Law “On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization”. In particular, the following may receive a deferment:

• • employees of critical businesses who have been booked;

• • military personnel released from Russian captivity;

• • men raising three or more children, including adopted children;

• • parents who are raising a child alone if the mother is deceased, missing or deprived of parental rights;

• • parents of children with disabilities or serious illnesses;

• • adoptive parents of orphans;

• • men with disabilities regardless of group;

• • people who constantly care for a relative with a disability when there is no one else to do it;

• • certain categories of those who care for a person with a disability of group III, in particular in cases of serious illnesses;

• • citizens whose close relatives died or went missing during the war;

• • students of vocational and higher education institutions, if they are receiving education for the first time and are studying full-time.

How to apply for a deferment

Now, to apply for a deferral, you do not need to go directly to the CCC. If information about the grounds is in the electronic registers, the application can be submitted through “Reserve+”. In other cases, documents are accepted at the Central Administrative Centers.

The package of documents depends on the specific reason. For example, for a deferment due to caring for a person with a disability, it is necessary to confirm the need for such care and the absence of other people who can provide it.

The deferral has a specific validity period, usually 6 or 12 months. After its expiration, the status must be renewed.

However, a man with a deferment may still receive a summons, for example to clarify military registration data. Such summons should not be ignored.

When can a deferral be canceled?

The right to a deferral may be lost if circumstances change. In particular:

• • a father with many children stopped paying child support;

• • one of the three children has reached the age of 18;

• • a person with a disability has not undergone a re-examination or has been found fit;

• • the student has completed his studies, taken an academic leave or switched to part-time studies;

• • the person who was cared for no longer needs it;

• • the child has lost the status of a child with a disability.

They may also refuse to grant a deferral. For example, when applying for care for their parents, it may turn out that they have other able-bodied relatives who can help.

Also, the deferral ends after its validity period expires, unless it is extended. In many cases, the system does this automatically, but due to possible technical problems in “Reserve+”, it is worth checking whether the status is up-to-date.