Deferment from mobilisation in Ukraine in 2026: grounds, documents, Reserv+

What a deferment is and where it is regulated

The grounds for a deferment are set out in Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On Mobilisation Preparation and Mobilisation”. The procedure is established by the Cabinet of Ministers: the Procedure for Calling Up Citizens for Military Service during Mobilisation, approved by Resolution No. 560 of 16 May 2024, as subsequently amended. Both the law and the resolution have been amended many times in recent years, so it is important to read the current wording.

A deferment does not remove you from military registration. A person who has one must still update their data, report a change of residence and fulfil the other duties of a person liable for military service. A deferment only means they are not called up during mobilisation while the ground applies.

A deferment should be distinguished from reservation (exemption through employment). A deferment is tied to personal circumstances: health, family, studies. Reservation is tied to work at an enterprise recognised as critically important or working for defence. Reservation is arranged by the employer, not by the employee.

Main grounds for a deferment

The list of grounds is broad, and each has its own conditions. In practice, the most common are:

• temporary unfitness for military service on health grounds, for the period set by the conclusion of the Military Medical Commission (MMC/ВЛК);
• the person's own disability;
• supporting three or more children under 18, provided there are no maintenance (alimony) arrears beyond the period set by law;
• raising a child under 18 alone;
• raising a child with a disability or supporting an adult child with a group I or II disability;
• permanent care for a close relative who has a group I or II disability or needs permanent care, if there are no other family members able to provide care;
• guardianship, custody, adoption, a foster family or a family-type children's home;
• full-time or dual-form studies, with restrictions as to the level of education and other conditions;
• work as a teacher or researcher with a workload of at least 0.75 of a full-time position;
• being a close relative of a service member who was killed or went missing defending Ukraine;
• release from captivity.

What documents to prepare

The set depends on the ground, but a basic set is needed almost always:

• a passport of a citizen of Ukraine and the taxpayer registration number (RNOKPP/РНОКПП);
• a military registration document, including the electronic one from Reserv+;
• documents on the ground itself: children's birth certificates, a marriage or divorce certificate, court decisions, certificates from an educational institution or employer;
• medical documents: the MMC conclusion and disability documents, i.e. a certificate of the Medical and Social Expert Commission (MSEC/МСЕК) or a decision of the expert team for the assessment of a person's daily functioning, which replaced the MSEC from 2025;
• for the “care” ground: documents on the family relationship, on the health of the person who needs care, and showing that other family members cannot provide it.

Submit copies and keep the originals with you. If a document was issued abroad, an apostille or consular legalisation and a translation into Ukrainian will usually be required.

How to apply: Reserv+ or in person

For some grounds, a deferment can be obtained online in the Reserv+ app. This works when the necessary information is already in state registers, for example on disability, the number of children or studies. The app checks the registers and, if the data match, generates an electronic deferment document. Automatic extension is provided for certain categories, but it is still worth checking your deferment status in the app from time to time.

If the ground cannot be confirmed through the registers or the data in them are inaccurate, an application with documents is submitted. The decision is made by a commission. The government has changed where and how to apply (the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centre (TCC/ТЦК) or other bodies, including the Administrative Services Centre (TsNAP/ЦНАП)), so check the current procedure for your community before applying.

Once you receive the decision, note its period of validity. Most deferments are valid until a certain date or require reconfirmation. A missed extension is one of the most common causes of unpleasant situations during document checks.

If a deferment is refused

A refusal must be reasoned. Ask for the commission's written decision stating the reasons. You can then remedy the shortcoming (submit a missing document, correct the data in a register) and apply again, or challenge the decision before a higher body or in an administrative court. The time limits for going to court are restricted, so do not delay.

Typical reasons for refusal: an incomplete set of documents, discrepancies between registers (an error in a surname or a child's date of birth), lack of evidence that no one else can provide care. More on this area: military law.

Checklist before applying

• Find your ground in the current wording of Article 23 of the law and check all its conditions.
• Update your data in Reserv+ and make sure there are no errors.
• Gather supporting documents and make copies.
• Check whether online application is available for your ground.
• Get the decision and note the date until which the deferment is valid.
• Keep the deferment document in the app and as a printout.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Legislation changes — check the current version or consult a lawyer.