Article 1. Military Service Obligation
1. Defence of the Motherland, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine is a constitutional duty of citizens of Ukraine.
2. Military service obligation is established to prepare citizens of Ukraine for the defence of the Motherland, to ensure the staffing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations created in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, as well as special purpose law enforcement agencies (hereinafter — the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations), the positions in which are staffed by military personnel.
3. Military service obligation includes:
- preparation of citizens for military service;
- registration of citizens for military accounting;
- voluntary enlistment (under contract) and conscription (assignment) for military service;
- performance of military service;
- fulfillment of military service obligation in the reserve;
- performance of service in the military reserve;
- compliance with military registration rules.
4. Citizens of Ukraine have the right to substitute military service obligation with alternative (non-military) service in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine "On Alternative (Non-Military) Service".
5. Citizens of Ukraine are exempted from military service obligation on the grounds specified by this Law.
6. Military service obligation does not apply to foreigners and stateless persons residing in Ukraine.
In cases provided for by law, foreigners and stateless persons (including those released from captivity prior to the completion of hostilities in the manner determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine) who are legally residing in the territory of Ukraine (hereinafter — foreigners and stateless persons) may voluntarily (under contract) serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine. {Paragraph two of part six of Article 1 as amended by Law No. 3687-IX of May 8, 2024}
7. Fulfillment of the military service obligation by citizens of Ukraine is ensured by state bodies, local self-government bodies, military formations created in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, enterprises, institutions, and organizations regardless of subordination and ownership forms within their powers provided by law, administrative service centers, recruitment centers, and district (joint district), city (district in cities, joint city) territorial centers for recruitment and social support, territorial centers for recruitment and social support of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regions, the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol (hereinafter — territorial centers for recruitment and social support).
8. Regulations on recruitment centers, territorial centers for recruitment and social support are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The activities of territorial centers for recruitment and social support and recruitment centers are coordinated and directed by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
9. Regarding military service obligation, citizens of Ukraine are divided into the following categories:
- pre-conscripts — persons subject to military registration;
- conscripts — persons registered for military accounting;
- military personnel — persons performing military service;
- persons subject to military service (reservists/conscription-eligible) — persons in reserve to staff the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations for a special period, as well as to perform work to ensure the defense of the state;
- reservists — persons serving in the military reserve of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, designated to staff them during peacetime and a special period.
Foreigners and stateless persons who, in accordance with the law, undergo military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine are equated to the category of military personnel.
Conscripts, persons subject to military service, reservists, and military personnel are issued a military registration document, which is a document that determines its holder's status regarding the fulfillment of military service obligation. The form, procedure for execution (creation), and issuance of the military registration document for conscripts, persons subject to military service, and reservists are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and for military personnel — by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, intelligence agencies of Ukraine, the State Security Administration of Ukraine, and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine respectively.
10. Citizens of Ukraine who are subject to military registration, are registered as conscripts, or are in the reserve of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, intelligence agencies of Ukraine, or serve in the military reserve are obliged to:
- update their personal data within 60 days from the date of entry into force of the Presidential Decree on the announcement of mobilization, approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, through an administrative service center, through the electronic cabinet of a conscript/person subject to military service/reservist, or at a territorial center for recruitment and social support;
- report upon summons of the district (joint district), city (district in city, joint city) territorial center for recruitment and social support (hereinafter — relevant district (city) territorial centers for recruitment and social support), Central Directorate or regional body of the Security Service of Ukraine, relevant unit of intelligence agencies of Ukraine for the execution of military registration documents, military registration, medical examination, assignment to training to acquire or improve a military occupational specialty, conscription for military service or training assemblies of persons subject to military service and reservists;
- undergo medical examination in accordance with decisions of the military registration commission, commission on assignment to basic military service, or military medical commission of the relevant district (city) territorial center for recruitment and social support, healthcare facilities of the Security Service of Ukraine, and in the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, intelligence body of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, or intelligence body of the central executive authority implementing state policy in the field of state border guard — by decision of heads of relevant units or military medical commission of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, intelligence body of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, or central executive authority implementing state policy in the field of state border guard, respectively;
- undergo preparation for military service, military service, and fulfill military service obligation in reserve;
- comply with military registration rules established by law.
Reservists are obliged to report to the military unit in which they perform service in the military reserve upon summons of the commander of that military unit.
11. Women who are fit for military service due to health condition and age and have expressed a desire to undergo basic military service shall be registered on the conscript military roster upon their application (request) immediately before being sent for basic military service. After completing basic military service, discharged women are registered on the military roster of persons subject to military service at their request in accordance with the procedure and within the timeframe specified in part eleven of Article 26 of this Law.
Women who are fit for military service due to health condition and age and have graduated from vocational, professional pre-higher, or higher education institutions and obtained a medical or pharmaceutical specialty are subject to military registration for persons subject to military service.
Women who have a specialty and/or profession related to a corresponding military occupational specialty, specified in the list approved by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, and are fit for military service due to health condition and age, except for those specified in paragraph two of this part, are registered on the military roster of persons subject to military service at their request. {Part eleven of Article 1 as amended by Law No. 4197-IX of January 9, 2025}
12. Women registered for military service may be conscripted for military service or involved in work to ensure national defence during wartime on a voluntary basis. In peacetime, women may be accepted for military service and service in the military reserve only on a voluntary basis (under contract).
Women fulfill military service obligation on equal grounds with men (except as provided by legislation on maternity and child protection, as well as prohibition of sex discrimination), which includes voluntary enlistment (under contract) and conscription for military service, performance of military service, performance of service in the military reserve, fulfillment of military obligation in reserve, and compliance with military registration rules.
Article 27. Enrolment in Reserve. Reserve Categories
1. Citizens of Ukraine who are fit for military service due to health condition in peacetime or wartime and have not reached the maximum age limit for reserve status are enrolled in the reserve of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. They are registered for military accounting at relevant district (city) territorial centers for recruitment and social support and relevant bodies of other military formations.
2. The reserve of persons subject to military service is divided into first and second categories.
3. The first category reserve includes persons subject to military service who have performed military service and acquired a military occupational specialty during their service.
4. The second category reserve includes persons subject to military service who did not acquire a military occupational specialty during military service or have not performed military service. {Part four of Article 27 as amended by Law No. 2523-VIII of September 6, 2018}
5. Persons subject to military service enrolled in the second category reserve, upon acquiring a military occupational specialty while in the reserve or serving in the military reserve, are transferred to the first category reserve. {Part five of Article 27 as amended by Law No. 2523-VIII of September 6, 2018} {Article 27 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010; as amended by Law No. 1127-VII of March 17, 2014}
Article 28. Reserve Classes and Maximum Age Limit for Remaining in Reserve
1. The reserve of persons subject to military service is divided into two classes, established depending on the age of persons subject to military service.
2. Persons subject to military service in the reserve holding military ranks of private, sergeant, and petty officer personnel are divided into age classes:
1) first class — up to 35 years of age;
2) second class — up to 60 years of age. {Item 2 of part two of Article 28 as amended by Law No. 1604-VII of July 22, 2014} {Part two of Article 28 as amended by Law No. 1169-VII of March 27, 2014}
3. Officers in reserve are divided into age classes:
1) first class:
- junior officer personnel — up to 45 years of age;
- senior officer personnel:
- Major (Captain 3rd Rank), Lieutenant Colonel (Captain 2nd Rank) — up to 50 years of age;
- Colonel (Captain 1st Rank) — up to 55 years of age;
- general officer personnel — up to 60 years of age;
2) second class:
- junior and senior officer personnel — up to 60 years of age;
- general officer personnel — up to 65 years of age. {Item 2 of part three of Article 28 as amended by Law No. 1604-VII of July 22, 2014} {Part three of Article 28 as amended by Law No. 1169-VII of March 27, 2014}
4. The maximum age limit for remaining in the second class reserve is the maximum age limit for remaining in the reserve. {Part four of Article 28 as amended by Law No. 2995-IX of March 21, 2023} {Part five of Article 28 excluded pursuant to Law No. 2397-VIII of April 5, 2018}
Article 29. Attending Assemblies by Persons Subject to Military Service and Reservists
1. Persons subject to military service are called up for training (or verification) and special assemblies. Reservists undergo training and assemblies according to programs in the manner established by regulations on performance of service in the military reserve by citizens of Ukraine. A corresponding order of the military unit commander is issued on the start and end of training assemblies for persons subject to military service and reservists.
The number of persons subject to military service to be called up for training assemblies is annually determined by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine within budget allocations for defense. {Part one of Article 29 supplemented by paragraph two pursuant to Law No. 1835-VI of January 21, 2010}
The number of persons subject to military service and reservists registered for military accounting in the Security Service of Ukraine and subject to call-up for training assemblies is annually determined by the Security Service of Ukraine within budget allocations provided to the Service. {Part one of Article 29 supplemented by paragraph three pursuant to Law No. 1357-IX of March 30, 2021}
The number of persons subject to military service and reservists registered for military accounting in the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine and subject to call-up for training assemblies is determined by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine within budget allocations provided to the Service. {Part one of Article 29 supplemented by paragraph four pursuant to Law No. 1357-IX of March 30, 2021}
The number of persons subject to military service and reservists registered for military accounting in the intelligence body of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and subject to call-up for training assemblies is determined by the intelligence body of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine within budget allocations provided to the intelligence body of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. {Part one of Article 29 supplemented by paragraph five pursuant to Law No. 3633-IX of April 11, 2024}
The number of persons subject to military service and reservists registered for military accounting in the intelligence body of the central executive authority implementing state policy in the field of state border guard and subject to call-up for training assemblies is determined by the intelligence body of the central executive authority implementing state policy in the field of state border guard within budget allocations provided to the central executive authority implementing state policy in the field of state border guard. {Part one of Article 29 supplemented by paragraph six pursuant to Law No. 3633-IX of April 11, 2024} {Part one of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
2. Rights and obligations of persons subject to military service during assemblies and reservists during the performance of military reserve service duties are established by this Law and other regulatory legal acts. Statues of the Armed Forces of Ukraine apply to persons subject to military service and reservists. {Part two of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
3. Persons subject to military service (except reservists) may be called up by district (city) territorial centers for recruitment and social support once every three years for training assemblies for a term of up to three months. {Part three of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010; as amended by Laws No. 1275-VII of May 20, 2014, No. 1357-IX of March 30, 2021, No. 1702-IX of July 16, 2021 — enacted on January 1, 2022}
4. Time and duration of training assemblies for persons subject to military service and reservists are determined by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and governing bodies of other military formations in accordance with this Law. {Part four of Article 29 as amended by Laws No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010, No. 1835-VI of January 21, 2010; as amended by Law No. 1127-VII of March 17, 2014}
5. In the period between training assemblies, persons subject to military service and reservists may be involved, according to the plan of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and governing bodies of other military formations in coordination with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in verification assemblies for a period of up to five days, both with and without interruption from production. {Part five of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010; as amended by Laws No. 1835-VI of January 21, 2010, No. 1357-IX of March 30, 2021} {Part six of Article 29 excluded pursuant to Law No. 1702-IX of July 16, 2021 — enacted on January 1, 2022}
7. Total duration of military reserve service duties performance may not exceed three months per year, unless otherwise provided by law. {Part seven of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1127-VII of March 17, 2014}
8. In the event of adoption by the President of Ukraine of a decision approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to declare a state of emergency in Ukraine or in specific areas, as well as declaring specific areas of Ukraine zones of an ecological emergency, persons subject to military service may be called up for special assemblies for a period of no more than two months.
9. Persons subject to military service and reservists who have received a summons from the relevant district (city) territorial center for recruitment and social support (Central Directorate or regional body of the Security Service of Ukraine, relevant units of intelligence agencies of Ukraine) to report for call-up to assemblies are obliged to arrive at the point and within the time specified in the summons.
Heads of enterprises, institutions, organizations, and educational institutions, regardless of subordination and form of ownership, at the request of the relevant territorial centers for recruitment and social support, Central Directorate or regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine, relevant units of intelligence agencies of Ukraine, ensure the timely arrival of persons subject to military service and reservists at designated assembly points.
Valid reasons for non-appearance or late appearance of a person subject to military service or reservist at the relevant territorial center for recruitment and social support (Central Directorate or regional body of the Security Service of Ukraine, relevant units of intelligence agencies of Ukraine) for call-up to assemblies at the location and time specified by its head, supported by relevant documents, are recognized as natural obstacles, family circumstances, and other valid reasons, the list of which is established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
After the end of the event that served as a valid reason for non-appearance of a person subject to military service or reservist within the timeframe specified in the summons, the person subject to military service or reservist is obliged to report to the relevant territorial center for recruitment and social support (Central Directorate or regional body of the Security Service of Ukraine, relevant unit of intelligence agencies of Ukraine) within three days. {Part nine of Article 29 supplemented by paragraph four pursuant to Law No. 3633-IX of April 11, 2024} {Article 29 supplemented by a new part pursuant to Law No. 1835-VI of January 21, 2010; as amended by Law No. 161-IX of October 3, 2019; as amended by Law No. 1357-IX of March 30, 2021; as amended by Law No. 3633-IX of April 11, 2024}
10. Persons subject to military service and reservists performing duties of military reserve service called up for assemblies are provided with material supplies in accordance with the procedure and amounts established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. {Part of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
11. Persons subject to military service called up for assemblies retain their place of employment, position held, and average salary at an enterprise, institution, organization regardless of subordination and ownership forms for the entire period of assemblies, as well as reservists for the entire period of performing duties of service in the military reserve, including travel time to and from the location of assemblies. {Part of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
12. Reservists receive monetary payments calculated at up to two subsistence minimums established for able-bodied persons as of January 1 of the calendar year for the entire period of performing duties of service in the military reserve, funded by the State Budget of Ukraine for the maintenance of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and other central executive bodies that manage military formations in accordance with the law. {Paragraph one of part twelve of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1774-VIII of December 6, 2016} {Paragraph one of part twelve of Article 29 enters into force on January 1, 2015 — see clause 1 of section II of Law No. 1275-VII of May 20, 2014}
Amounts of monetary payments, financial allowance, and incentives for reservists and the procedure for their payment are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. {Part twelve of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1275-VII of May 20, 2014}
13. Payment of average salary to persons subject to military service for the entire period of assemblies and to reservists for the duration of performing duties of service in the military reserve is funded by the State Budget of Ukraine in accordance with the procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. {Part of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
14. If a person subject to military service falls ill during assemblies and continues to be ill after their conclusion, their place of employment and position held are retained, and from the day assemblies end, in case of temporary disability, temporary disability allowance is paid instead of salary in accordance with the law.
If a reservist falls ill during performance of duties of service in the military reserve and continues to be ill after the end of the term of performing these duties, their place of employment and position held are retained, and from the date of completion of performing these duties, in case of temporary disability, temporary disability allowance is paid instead of salary in accordance with the law. {Part of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
15. Persons subject to military service who are unemployed on the date of call-up for assemblies for the entire period of assemblies, and unemployed reservists for the entire period of performing duties of service in the military reserve, including travel time to and from the military unit, are paid financial allowance equal to the subsistence minimum established for able-bodied persons as of January 1 of the calendar year, funded by the State Budget of Ukraine for the maintenance of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and other central executive bodies that manage military formations in accordance with the law. {Part of Article 29 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010; as amended by Law No. 1774-VIII of December 6, 2016}
Article 30. Exemption from Assemblies
1. The following are exempted from assemblies (except reservists): {Paragraph one of part one of Article 30 as amended by Law No. 1834-VI of January 21, 2010}
1) employees of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations;
2) employees of enterprises, institutions, and organizations of civil aviation who directly ensure transport, maintenance, and repair of aircraft and airfield equipment;
3) crew members of maritime and inland waterway vessels