Mobilization: changes in booking and emphasis on digitaliza…

Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine continues. Therefore, mobilization has been introduced in the country.

On January 1, 2026, updated mobilization rules came into effect in Ukraine. The government and the Ministry of Defense are introducing a new model of military registration, which focuses on digitalization, automatic processes and stricter control.

What has changed in mobilization since January 1, 2026

It is argued that the mobilizationemphasizes quality training instead of quantitative recruitment. The need for mobilization remains, but the approaches to its implementation are changing: basic training lasts 51 days, and the training process is being improved.

Abolition of paper documents

Instead of military tickets, an electronic document, the Reserve ID, is introduced. It can be generated through the Reserve+ application or obtained in paper form through the TCC.

Paper tickets are kept only as an additional form. New documents are no longer produced. Verification now takes place via a QR code, which reduces the risk of forgery and errors.

Electronic summonses through Reserve+

In 2026, the government plans to launch the function of sending notifications of subpoenas through the Reserve+ application. This function is voluntary: the user chooses whether to receive notifications about calls, fines, or accounting violations.

How will summonses be served in 2026?

The rules remain in force: not only representatives of the TCC, but also officials of the authorities, government agencies, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other structures can serve summonses.

It should be noted that the place of delivery can be anywhere: at home, at work, in government agencies, at checkpoints or while crossing the border.

Changes in the rules for booking persons liable for military service

On January 1, 2026, new rules for booking employees liable for military service came into force in Ukraine.

What is the salary required to get a reservation

According to the new requirements, companies will be able to retain employees only if their official salary meets the increased minimum standards.

Since the beginning of 2026, this threshold has increased to UAH 21600 per month.

This change is due to the increase in the minimum wage, which is set at UAH 8647 in the state budget for 2026.

According to the formula set out in the booking rules (minimum wage multiplied by a coefficient of 2.5), companies must ensure payments of at least UAH 21617.

Speeding up the booking process

On December 8, the government abolished the 72-hour deadline for checking employee lists for companies that have a confirmed criticality status. This allows businesses to quickly protect their staff and ensure uninterrupted operations. In addition, a provision was introduced that allows for the reservation of defense industry employees for 45 calendar days. This gives workers time to eliminate possible violations of military registration rules.

Critically important enterprises have until February 1, 2026 to book their employees through the Diia portal three times faster. Temporarily, the processing time for applications has been reduced to 24 hours to avoid a situation where critical specialists lose their reservation due to procedural delays.

What has been changed

The result in a day. The processing time for applications is up to 24 hours, not three days.

Cancellation without limits. There is no need to wait 5 days between requests to cancel employee bookings. As soon as the previous application is processed, you can immediately submit the next one.

These simplifications are temporary - until February 1, 2026. After that date, the standard rules will return.

Lawyers emphasize the importance of following the procedure set out in Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1487.

In this context, there are several critical rules:

The employer has no right to require an employee to go to the pre-employment medical examination on his or her own.
An employee's refusal to undergo a medical examination without an official referral from the TCC is not considered a violation of labor discipline or accounting rules.
Even if the term of the previous commission has formally "expired," the person is not obliged to report to the doctors without a new call from the MCC.

Deferral from mobilization. What documents are required

In 2026, applications for deferment from mobilization can be submitted online through Reserve+, at the ASC or on the website of the Ministry of Defense.

In Ukraine, the deferment is available for 10 categories of people, including people with disabilities, parents of three or more children, students and teachers.

To obtain a deferment from military service during mobilization, an applicant must submit an application containing his or her full name, taxpayer registration number (TIN) or passport series and number, date of birth, address of residence, email address and contact phone number. The application must also be accompanied by documents confirming the right to deferral or copies of such documents certified in accordance with the established procedure.

The TCC reviews the application and makes a decision. The applicant is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the data provided.

The list of supporting documents is set out in Annex 5 to the Procedure for Conscription of Citizens for Military Service during Mobilization(Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 560 of 16.05.2024).

Who can receive a deferment from conscription during mobilization

The following persons may be deferred from conscription during mobilization in Ukraine:

People with disabilities;
temporarily unfit for service (if there is a resolution of the military qualification commission in electronic form);
parents of three or more children under 18 years of age;
parents of a child with a disability under 18 years of age;
parents of an adult child with a disability of group I or II;
husband or wife with a disability of group I or II;
persons raising a child under the age of 18 if their husband or wife is in the military;
single parents of a child under 18 years of age;
students of full-time or dual form of education, doctoral students and interns;
researchers, research and teaching staff working at the main place at least 0.75 of the rate.

Володимир Шкаєв

Mobilization in 2026: changes in booking rules and emphasis on digitalization