Massive scheme of mobilization evasion through education: what the inspections revealed
1 December 17:07
The State Education Quality Service (SQS) has reported large-scale abuses in higher and vocational pre-higher education institutions that allowed men over 25 to receive student status – and with it a legal deferral from mobilization.
Ruslan Gurak, the head of the service, said this in an interview with ZN.UA, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The examination found that some universities and colleges have actually turned into a tool for evasion, creating a parallel system of recruitment and “training” that worked outside official procedures and sometimes directly violated the law.
What the SJAO found
One of the most illustrative cases, according to the SESU, was a massive package of motivation letters in one of the capital’s universities – a hundred texts, all identical.
“The text was written on behalf of a girl: “I’m an athlete, I’m fond of freestyle wrestling…” and it was signed by a hundred guys aged 25,” said Gurak.
This was just one of the markers of large-scale schemes that the service recorded during its inspections.
Four main schemes
1. Violation of admission procedures at colleges
Applicants over the age of 25 were admitted based on “non-standard” internal tests, often without the participation of external commissions. According to Gurak, this was done by the teachers themselves, who were members of the admission committees, opening the way for those who sought deferral to be admitted.
2. Admission without military registration documents
Some applicants were not registered with the military, but they were still enrolled. After that, they went to the TCC, paid a fine, and received a legal deferment.
“Everyone who entered without military registration documents was enrolled illegally. That is why we appealed to the rectors to expel such students,” emphasized the head of the SESU.
3. Exceeding the license volume
Institutions enrolled more students than the license allows, mostly on a contract basis, which created an uncontrolled influx of “25 students.”
The SQA emphasizes that this called into question the ability to provide at least basic quality education.
4. Imitation of education
The inspectors found hundreds of cases where students had grades and passed sessions, but there was no evidence of their presence in class. In some institutions, the education of students over 25 was formal or completely fictitious.
Some cases have become criminalized
In one of the colleges in Ternopil region, the director created a special “department of 25” and recruited 20 teachers who also received a deferment. No evidence was found that these “teachers” taught anything. Law enforcement also established that the director had received a bribe.
Why the scheme became widespread
According to the SESU, the number of students under the age of 25 has increased from 30,000 to 230,000 in two years, an abnormal increase that the service explains by the massive use of education as a way to avoid mobilization.
Who is eligible for a deferment?
The right to deferment for students is enshrined in the law “On Mobilization Training and Mobilization” and Cabinet of Ministers Resolution 560. And from November 1, 2025, most of these deferrals will be extended automatically – in particular, through the Reserve application or through the ASC.
This is what makes the student status attractive to those who want to avoid conscription, the service notes.
The SSUO has already appealed to rectors with a recommendation to expel all students enrolled without military registration documents. The service also plans to hand over the inspection materials to law enforcement agencies.
The situation, according to the SESU, requires updating the control over enrollment and preventing schemes that could undermine confidence in the education system – and at the same time create a shadow market for evasion in times of war.
