Students – for basic military training: the nuances of the law on mobilisation

18 April 2024 13:22

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the law on mobilisation, and all students will face many changes, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.

Instead of conscription, the law introduces the concept of basic military training. It will be possible to take it while studying at a university or in training centres of the Armed Forces.

Students will be required to undergo basic military training from 1 September 2025.

Basic military service will continue:

in peacetime – up to five months, of which up to three months are spent on basic general military training and up to two months on specialised training;
during martial law – up to three months, of which at least one month is basic military training and up to two months is professional training.

Completion of basic military training or military service will be a prerequisite for employment in the civil service or local self-government.

Those who have not completed military service or basic military training will not be able to work in the civil service, prosecution or police.

At the same time, they will not be mobilised:

Recipients of vocational, vocational higher and higher education who are studying full-time and dual education and are obtaining a level of education. It must be higher than the level of education previously obtained;
Postgraduate students, doctoral students, and persons enrolled in internships.

In addition, they are not subject to mobilisation for a special period:

Researchers and academic staff with a scientific degree working in higher and vocational higher education institutions, scientific institutions and organisations;
Teaching staff of vocational higher education, vocational and general secondary education institutions.

They will be granted a deferral from mobilisation provided that the above-mentioned employees are employed at their main place of work in the above-mentioned institutions and organisations at a minimum of 0.75 rate.

Male students will be able to cross the border during martial law provided that they are

are between the ages of 18 and 22, and are not subject to military service during mobilisation;
are studying full-time in higher education institutions of Ukraine of state or municipal ownership and receive a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree in medicine, pharmacy or veterinary medicine);
are participants in educational academic mobility;
study at foreign educational institutions for a period of 1 semester.

The new law will come into force on 18 May.

The exceptions are the twelfth and thirteenth paragraphs of subparagraph 2 of paragraph 8 of Section I of this law, which come into force eight months after the day following the day of publication.

The draft law was passed in the second reading on 11 April. Yesterday, it was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

We would like to add that within 60 days after the law comes into force, all conscripts, persons liable for military service and reservists must update their military registration data – at the military registration and enlistment office, the ASC or through an electronic cabinet.

What does the law on mobilisation provide for?

The main provisions of the document are as follows:

The provision on the right to demobilisation of people with disabilities remains.
Demobilisation in connection with the release from captivity (if servicemen do not express a desire to continue military service).
Those found to be partially fit will be obliged to re-evaluate within 12 months.
Servicemen and women who sign their first contract are entitled to compensation of 50 per cent of the down payment on a mortgage-backed loan.
Those who received a 2-3 disability group after 24 February 2022 (except for military personnel) are subject to a second medical examination to determine their fitness for service.
During mobilisation, men are required to carry a military registration document and present it at the request of a representative of the CCC or a police officer. The process of document verification can be recorded on camera or phone.
In the border area and at border crossing points, a border guard may require you to present your military registration document.
Restrictions on driving vehicles for men of the appropriate age at the request of the MCC.
Citizens who are registered with the military may voluntarily register an electronic account of a conscript, person liable for military service or a reservist.
Military personnel are entitled to compensation of 50% of the down payment on a mortgage when entering into their first contract.
Persons liable for military service aged 18 to 60 will be able to obtain documents at foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine only if they have military registration documents .
Persons liable for military service will also be able to obtain a passport and a foreign passport if they have their military registrationdocuments with them.
All servicemen are to be paid a monthly remuneration of UAH 10,000.
Those who evade mobilisation will be punished by a temporary restriction on driving vehicles, based on a court decision.
Instead of conscript service, it is planned to introduce basic military service for citizens aged 18 to 25. They will be able to choose the period of service until they reach the age of 24.
There are no plans for compulsory mobilisation of women. They are subject to military registration if they are fit for military service for health and age reasons and have received medical or pharmaceutical education. Women who are registered for military service may be called up for military service during martial law on a voluntary basis.
uAH 70 thousand in monthly payments to those who participate in combat operations “from scratch”.