Mobilization in Ukraine 2023: who will receive a postponement and who will be taken away as a matter of priority

Mobilization and martial law have been ongoing in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian army. Citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to appear when summoned by the Military Commissariat and register. But not everyone will be drafted, the Ministry of Defense notes.

TSN.ua found out how the 2023 recruiting process will take place, who will be drafted first, and who has the right to postpone.

Will the mobilization increase – statement of the Ministry of Defense

Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov said that currently the mobilization in Ukraine continues “in a calm mode”.

“We have announced mobilization in February since the beginning of this influx, and it has not been completed… As Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi says, we do not have as great a need for people as the Russians. We have a need for weapons, equipment, equipment, etc. “Unfortunately, there are also losses. That’s why we replenish the losses of our combat brigades with those whom we select,” he said.

The minister also noted that “special specialists for certain tasks” are recruited into the army.

“But I see no need for mass mobilization as of today. However, of course, the situation at the front can change in any way, at any moment… And then the decision will be made by the National Security Council, the President, the Verkhovna Rada that we increase the need for the Armed Forces, or we need more for the security and protection sector for mobilization. As of today, we personally do not see such a significant step – let’s start a new mobilization,” Reznikov said.

Recently, the Ministry of Defense denied information about an alleged new large wave of mobilization after the New Year. Deputy Minister of Defense Anna Painter stressed that the continuation of mobilization depends on the course of hostilities. In Ukraine, mobilization has already been extended for 90 days several times, the last time – on November 21.

Military expert Oleg Zhdanov explained that in Ukraine “there is no clear distinction – the first wave, the second, the third, the fourth”.

“We have mobilized a sufficient number of people, now the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff are resupplying. They are conscripting the necessary number of people in the necessary specialties. There will be no such thing as a “wave of 100-200 thousand”.. The system is set up in such a way that there are enough people in the Armed Forces, only demobilization is necessary as needed,” he said.

Zhdanov clarified that mobilized people will fight until the end of the warbut they will not spend all this time in battle, in the trenches, on the front line.

“Now, the farther from the beginning, the more organized the system of troop rotation on the frontline works. Battalions and companies change, rotation is carried out, the Verkhovna Rada introduced at the legislative level vacations of up to 10 days for each serviceman from the Armed Forces,” the expert said.

Who is called first

First of all, those who already have experience of participating in combat operations, such as ATO/OOS, are called to join the Armed Forces. This was told by the head of the personnel department of the headquarters of the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Roman Horbach.

“Of course in terms of percentage, we call more general military specialties – gunners, tankers, but it cannot be said that we do not need such specialties as signalmen, ciphers, etc.. There is a need for absolutely all specialties, but some we invite more, some less,” explained Horbach.

There is also a draft of citizens who have not completed military service, but this category is necessarily sent to study, the minimum term is one month. Then, depending on the complexity of the specialty, this term can be much longer.

In Ukraine by legislation four waves of mobilization are defined:

• The first wave is the operational reserve, former military personnel who had combat experience or served under a contract.
• The second wave (currently taking place) – servicemen who, in the period from 2014, completed conscript service or served under a contract.
• The third wave – reserve officers will be drafted – conscripts who graduated from military departments of universities.
• The fourth wave – all residents of the country who do not have age and health restrictions.

Delivery of summonses

During the general mobilization in Ukraine men aged 18 to 60 can be served with summons even in public places.

At the same time, summonses to military commissariats by means of phone calls, text messages, summonses in mailboxes or delivered to relatives do not have legal force for conscripts.

At checkpoints, a conscript may be handed a summons, but not a mobilization order.

In particular, a summons for clarification of data can be served in another city where the conscript is not assigned, since the conscript may not be at the place of registration, in another region, the conscript can only be with the permission of the military commissar or if the man has entered temporary registration at the new place of residence.

Liability for failure to appear at the request of a summons to clarify account data — a fine in the amount of UAH 3,400 to UAH 5,100. Criminal liability arises only for ignoring a summons to send, which qualifies as evasion of mobilization.

Who cannot be forcibly mobilized

In Ukraine, the following categories of citizens are not subject to compulsory mobilization, in particular:

• men over 60 years old;
• recognized as unfit for service due to health conditions;
• parents of three or more children;
• parents of a child with a disability;
• guardians of orphans or disabled persons;
• people’s deputies, employees of law enforcement agencies, some categories of officials;
• full-time students, scientific and pedagogical workers;
• employees of certain enterprises and institutions can receive “armor” from their organizations.

The volumes of reservation of conscripts working at enterprises, institutions and organizations are determined taking into account the mobilization order established for them.

New rules for accounting of conscripts

The Cabinet of Ministers by resolution dated December 30 approved a new procedure for organizing and maintaining military records of conscripts, conscripts and reservists.

It will be possible to submit information about yourself for the Military Committee in 2023 through “Diya”.

A conscript can be hired or trained only after providing a valid military ID (in particular through “Diya”) or military registration.

Workers of employment centers will have to collect information about all unemployed people who fall under the category of conscripts.

The resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers also provides for changes regarding the military registration of female doctors. Female medics, doctors, nurses and pharmacists are subject to military registration along with men. Also, women are subject to military registration at their request, if their specialty is related to military affairs or a specific military specialty.

However, female doctors who were not on the military register as of December 30, 2022, have the right not to be registered until 2026. Such a period of time is probably needed for the Unified State Register of Conscripts to be introduced.

Read also: