Material prepared by Natalia Slipchenko,
Senior HR Administration Specialist of HR&Payroll Division
At the beginning of April 2024, Ukraine experienced significant changes in the legislation on military registration and mobilization. These transformations not only reflect the rapid development of national security, but also open a new page in the country's military history.
Here are the major changes you should know about:
1. Conscription age reduction
One of the key changes is the Law No. 3127-IX signed by the President, which provides for a reduction in the age limit for citizens to be registered with the military service from 27 to 25 years. This means that starting from 4 April 2024, all men who have reached the age of 25 will become liable for military service. Employers must notify their employees, who have reached the age of 25 of the need to contact the territorial military commissariat and register for military service.
2. Launch of e-registration of persons liable for military service
Law of Ukraine No. 3549-IX launches the electronic register of persons liable for military service “Oberig” and the electronic cabinet of persons liable for military service. These innovations are aimed at improving the system of processing and using data in state registers for military registration. Now, persons liable for military service can update their data without visiting a territorial military commissariat or structural unit.
3. Cancellation of the status of “limitedly fit”
The Law of Ukraine No. 3621-IX cancels the status of “limitedly fit” and provides for two types of status: “fit for service” or “unfit for service”. Citizens who have been declared “limitedly fit” are subject to a second medical examination within nine months from the date of entry into force of this law.Overall, these changes demonstrate the government’s strategic vision of defence needs and its ability to adapt to new challenges and technologies. They also remind to citizens of the importance of military readiness and active participation in the military registration system to ensure the overall security and defense of the country.
Recall that clause 2 of Section II ‘Final and Transitional Provisions’ of the Law of Ukraine No. 3621-IX dated 21.03.2024 ‘On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring the Rights of Servicemen and Police Officers to Social Protection’ (hereinafter - Law No. 3621) provides for the obligation of undergoing a preliminary medical examination by Ukrainian citizens aged 25 to 60 who have been declared ‘partially fit’.
The deadline for the mandatory Military Medical Commission for citizens who had a ‘limitedly fit’ status before 4 May 2024 was initially set at February 4 2025, but was later extended to June 5 2025 inclusive.
The obligation to undergo the MMC by June 5 2025 was imposed on persons with the status of ‘limited fitness’, except for persons with disabilities and persons under the age of 25.
This is how it is defined in No. 3621-IX:
To establish that citizens of Ukraine aged 25 to 60 years who were recognised as partially fit for military service before the entry into force of this Law (except for persons recognised as persons with disabilities in accordance with the established procedure) are obliged to undergo a second medical examination by June 5 2025 to determine their fitness for military service. Such citizens are obliged to apply independently to the territorial centre of recruitment and social support (persons liable for military service and reservists of the Security Service of Ukraine - to the Central Department or regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine, persons liable for military service and reservists of the intelligence agencies of Ukraine - to the relevant unit of the intelligence agencies of Ukraine) or through the electronic office of a conscript, person liable for military service and reservist in order to receive a referral to the military medical commission for medical examination.
It is important that by June 5 2025, it was necessary not only to receive a referral for a MMC, but also to undergo such a MMC. And it was the persons liable for military service who had to initiate the process, not the Territorial recruitment and social support centres, as it was before the February amendments to Law No. 3621.
It should be noted that the availability of a reservation or deferral did not cancel the obligation to undergo the MMC by the set date. Thus, since the law's requirement to undergo the MMC has been in force since May 2024, the persons who:
- had undergone a medical examination before that date;
- had a ‘limited fitness’ status;
- were 25+ years old;
- did not have the status of a person with a disability.
If you have any additional questions or would like to receive more detailed advice on military issues of the legislation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our experts are ready to provide you with professional support and assistance in understanding all aspects of this complex topic.
