Mobilization in Ukraine

A general (previously partial) mobilization into the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been taking place in Ukraine since 2014.

Earlier, mobilization was not carried out, but conscription in Ukraine into the armed forces was. The call existed until 2013. On 14 October 2013, Viktor Yanukovych signed Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 562/2013, according to which, from 1 January 2014, conscription into the armed forces was suspended and further recruitment was to be carried out exclusively on a contract basis. After the Euromaidan, voluntary recruitment into the Armed Forces was canceled, and later mobilization began in them. The Ministry of Defense stated that the annual mobilization will take place in several stages. In accordance with Decree No. 303 of 17 March 2014, partial mobilization of those liable for military service was started and continued for many years.

From February 2022, since Russian invasion of Ukraine, first of all, reserve servicemen with combat experience who served in the Armed Forces under a contract or took part in hostilities in the Luhansk region and Donetsk region of the Donbas will be mobilized first. Then, military personnel who served on conscription until 2014 will fall under mobilization. And then those who graduated from the military departments at universities and became a reserve officer, as well as other persons who do not have age and physical restrictions, will be mobilized. General mobilization was announced for a period of three months. The presidential decree was approved by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) on 3 March 2022, and in accordance with it, men aged 18 to 60 will be mobilized. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the Ukrainian authorities plan to mobilize 1,000,000 people.^[1]

According to the law "On mobilization training and mobilization", general mobilization in Ukraine is carried out simultaneously throughout its territory and concerns the economy, state authorities, local self-government, the armed forces, and other formations, enterprises, institutions, and organizations.

In accordance with Decree No. 303 of 17 March 2014, a partial mobilization of those liable for military service was started. On 1 May 2014, due to the aggravation of the situation in eastern Ukraine, conscription for military service, canceled during the reign of Yanukovych, was restored, that is, the transition to professional armed forces was canceled. On 6 May 2014, another partial mobilization was announced.

After the completion of the planned waves of mobilization in 2015, on 14 September, a month before the local elections in the country, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko announced that he had made a decision "under the conditions of the actual implementation of the ceasefire regime, to postpone mobilization, not to conduct and not to announce".^[2] However, on 11 January 2016, Poroshenko stated that as soon as he received an appeal from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a request to announce mobilization, he would immediately do it.^[3] On 15 January, the press service of the General Staff announced the mobilization planned for 2016.^[3]

As part of the six waves of mobilization that took place in 2014–2015, 210 thousand people were called up for military service,^[3][4] every sixth of them was registered as a volunteer.^[4] Three waves were held in 2014 and three more in 2015. Those called up as part of the fourth wave changed those called up in the first wave, the fifth changed the second, and the sixth – the third, the rotation period was about a year.

Starting from the third wave of mobilization, it includes those liable for military service who did not serve in the army. They undergo training for a month, after which they are sent to units, including to the zone of armed conflict.^[5]

For draft evasion for mobilization in accordance with Art. 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for imprisonment for a term of two to five years. At the beginning of 2016, according to the register of court decisions, Ukrainian courts signed hundreds of convictions under this article.^[3]

In November 2015, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 2,673 military deaths, including 831 non-combat losses (careless handling of ammunition, suicide, road accidents, etc.), and more than 8,000 troops were injured.^[3]

On 1 March 2014, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine adopted, as well Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov put into effect the decision to put the army on full combat readiness and conduct training camps with the required number of conscripts.^[6]

On 17 March 2014, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) approved the draft law “On Approval of the Presidential Decree “On Partial Mobilization””, according to the explanatory note to which the need for this decision “is due to the aggravation of the socio-political situation on the Crimean Peninsula, undisguised aggression, the seizure by the Russian side of part of the territory Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol".^[7] The mobilization was planned within 45 days from the date of its entry into force in order to call up 20 thousand people and the same number to the newly created National Guard. By 24 March 2014, more than 10,000 citizens had already been mobilized into the Ukrainian army as part of partial mobilization.^[8][9]

On 6 May, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine extended the partial mobilization and demobilization of those called up, and the Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov signed a decree on partial mobilization in Ukraine, according to which additional forces throughout Ukraine were called up for 45 days.

Ukrainian society reacted to mobilizations with discontent and protests.^[10]

The third stage of partial mobilization started on 24 July, when a day earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the relevant law, approved by the parliament with the votes of 232 deputies (with the minimum required 226) – the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Party of Regions opposed the mobilization, and some of the deputies – for its implementation only after the declaration of martial law; the borderline level of support for deputies caused criticism of the president.^[10][11] Recruitment was planned in all regions of the country, except Crimea, for 45 days.^[12] The third wave of mobilization ended on 9 September 2014.

Over 105,000 people were mobilized in 2014.^[3]

From January to April 2015, the fourth wave of mobilization was carried out, during which those called up in the first wave in 2014 were replaced. More than 40,000 troops were called up.^[13]

Carrying out the fifth and sixth stages of mobilization in the spring and summer of 2015 was complicated due to a large number of draft dodgers. To fulfill the plan, the military commissars handed out summonses at checkpoints at the entrance to settlements, in supermarkets, at checkpoints of manufacturing enterprises, on the streets, and in public transport. The plan of the sixth stage, which ended on 17 August, was completed by only 60%, the shortfall was compensated by the admission of contract servicemen to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.^[13]

In total, about 104 thousand people were mobilized in 2015.^[3]

The main focus in 2016 was intended to be on contract service in the army. In connection with the increase in the minimum salary of a serviceman to 7,000 hryvnias (almost $300 at the exchange rate on 1 February), a significantly increased number of people wishing to enter contract service is noted, for example, in January alone, the contract was signed by 400 people,^[14] by the beginning of March – more than 6 thousand,^[15] by the first half of April – more than 18 thousand, by the beginning of June – more than 32 thousand.^[16]

On 29 March, the decree of President Poroshenko on the transfer to the reserve of military personnel of the fourth wave of mobilization (about 45 thousand) came into force.^[17]

On 24 June, the decree of President Poroshenko on the transfer to the reserve of military personnel of the fifth wave of mobilization (about 17 thousand) came into force.

According to the Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, the demobilization of the sixth wave of conscripts was planned to take place in August–September 2016.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decree 24 February 2022 № 64/2022 "On the imposition of martial law in Ukraine" on general mobilization in the country, which would commence on 25 February for a period of 90 days, calling up conscripts and reservists; all male Ukrainian citizens aged 18 to 60 were prohibited from travelling abroad, unless they could provide documents that they fulfilled specified conditions for exemption.^[18][19][20] Mobilization was carried out in all regions. The General Staff had to determine the "order and volume" of those mobilized, and the government had to provide the necessary funding. The heads of regional administrations had to “ensure the creation and operation of regional, district and city medical commissions,” the decree specified. Zelenskyy did not support a petition to allow men between the ages of 18 and 60 to leave the country abroad. In May 2022, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) extended martial law and mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days at once, until 23 August.^[18][21] Students, parents with three or more children under 18, caretakers of disabled dependents and those deemed medically unfit will not be mobilized.^[22]

On 22 June 2022, a bill was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada prohibiting men of military age from traveling abroad during martial law. It is assumed that the circle of persons to whom an exception will be made will be determined by the law "On mobilization training and mobilization."^[23]

In July 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine decided that from October in the military commissariats, all women who received education in the fields of chemistry, biology, and telecommunications will have to enter the military register. The ministry explained that all women liable for military service will not be able to travel abroad during martial law.^[24]

In August 2022, the Verkhovna Rada extended martial law and general mobilization until 21 November 2022.^[25]

In September 2022, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar announced the forthcoming postponement of the deadlines for registering women for military registration for the next year, she clarified that: “The Ministry of Defense, within the framework of its powers, prepared a decree that once again postponed the deadlines for admitting women of certain professions / specialties to the military accounting for another year – until 1 October 2023.^[26]

On 17 November 2022, the Verkhovna Rada adopted laws approving presidential decrees on the extension of martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days, until 19 February 2023.^[27]

On 7 February 2 May, 27 July and 8 November 2023 the Verkhovna Rada adopted laws approving presidential decrees on the extension of martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days each. Lasting from 19 February 2023 to 20 May, to 18 August, to 15 November, to 14 February 2024.^{[28][29][30][31][32]}

On 19 December 2023, President Zelenskyy said that the Ministry of Defense proposed to mobilize 450,000 to 500,000 additional Ukrainian citizens, including Ukrainian men living abroad,^[33][34] into the Ukrainian Armed Forces.^[35] Zelenskyy said that if needed, the conscription age could be reduced from 27 to 25 years.^[36] On 26 December, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhny, said that the military command had not formally requested the mobilization, and while it provides ongoing classified requests for various resources, it is not entitled to propose legislative initiatives.^[37]

On 6 February and 8 May 2024, the Verkhovna Rada adopted laws approving presidential decrees on the extension of martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine for 6 months in total. Lasting from 14 February to 13 May, to 11 August 2024.^[38][39][40]

On 23 February 2024, the parliament of Ukraine passed a demobilization bill introduced by Zelenskyy. The bill stipulates that conscripts who have been mobilized since 2022 should be pulled in reserve for at least 12 months within the terms determined by the decree of the president of Ukraine.^[41] The demobilization came into effect in April and May 2024. It only targets young people who have completed their military service during martial law and have not been in reserve.^[42]

In late December 2023, due to the lack of recruits to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and at the urging of the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhnyi, a new draft bill was proposed in the parliament. The bill would, among other things, lower the conscription age from 27 to 25, set a limit to discharge conscripts after 36 months of active duty during martial law, give military recruiters and the state of Ukraine more legal pathways to restrict and punish draft evaders in Ukraine and abroad, and enable them to hand out call-up papers digitally.^[43] After initial hearing and a wave of criticism of it being unconstitutional the proposal was amended in mid-January 2024 and passed at the first hearing in the Verkhovna Rada. The final bill was expected to be adopted in March 2024, filling the gap of the 500,000 new conscripts Ukraine needs to sustain the war.^[44] At the end of March 2024, the Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence had reviewed 4,269 amendments.^[45] On 11 April the bill was passed in the Verkhovna Rada and on 16 April Zelenskyy signed it into law, scheduled to take effect a month after its signing on 18 May.^[46]

In late March 2024, the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky, contrary to his predecessor Zaluzhnyi denied the need to mobilize 500 000, citing that after an audit that number had been significantly reduced.^[47] Previously, there had been an audit of the AFU forces at Syrsky initiative of a supposed gap of 700 000 soldiers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak described as to have never seen the front-line.^[48]

On 2 April 2024, Zelenskyy signed a standalone bill lowering the mobilization age from 27 to 25. The bill had already been passed in the Verkhovna Rada since May 2023. This came just a week after Syrskyi's audit.^[49]

In mid-April 2024, Zelenskyy signed a new mobilization law aimed at increasing the number of soldiers.^[50][51] The law requires all Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 to register with the Ukrainian military and to carry their registration documents with them at all times.^[52] The government banned the issuance of new passports and the provision of non-emergency consular services to Ukrainian men of military age abroad.^[53]

On 17 May 2024, president Zelenskyy signed a law allowing some convicts to enlist in the army for a chance at a suspended prison sentence.^[54] The legislation excludes mass-murderers, rapists, and those who committed crimes against national security from enlisting.^[55]

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, around 650,000 military-aged men have left the country.^[56] According to Ukrainian authorities, as of November 2023, around 20,000 people had been caught while trying to cross the border illegally since February 2022, and another 20,000 successful crossings were recorded between February 2022 and 31 August 2023 according to a BBC Eye Investigation.^[57]

Following the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 20,000 foreigners volunteered to join the Ukrainian military.^[58] However, as of February 2023, the number of foreigners in the Ukrainian military was estimated at around 2,000. Several reasons for this decrease have been given: "war tourists" and "thrill seekers" were weeded out, part of the volunteers left as they did not expect fighting of such a high intensity in harsh conditions, and some of them reported situations of violent abuse and "suicide missions".^[59]

In 2023, harsher methods of mobilization began to be used, such as road blocks, business raids, and pulling people from the streets. In the latter half of 2023, videos surfaced online showing Ukrainian men violently dragged into vans and driven to the military recruiting centers (ТЦК [uk]).^[60][61][62]

Corruption in military medical commissions was described as systematic by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023, with bribes being given in exchange for exemptions from service.^[63] In at least one case, a mentally disabled person was declared fit for service, and in another an epileptic man died on his first day of service after being mobilized. A number of legal cases related to lawlessness in the recruitment of new conscripts have been opened.^[62][64]

Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen are reported to be some of the oldest in the world, with an average age of 43 in November 2023, 10 years older than in March 2022.^[65]

The lack of resources for mobilization also affects rotation, with many soldiers having no rotation since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. In October 2023, protests took place in seven Ukrainian cities, primarily consisting of wives and relatives of soldiers demanding demobilization. As part of these protests, around 100 relatives of soldiers held a demonstration in Kyiv.^[66][67]

On 23 April 2024, the Ukrainian foreign ministry announced that it would suspend consular services to overseas Ukrainian men who were eligible for military service, with the exception of those returning to Ukraine.^[68]

On 24 April 2024, the Ukrainian government issued a decree banning the delivery of identification documents and passports to Ukrainian men of military age abroad.^[69]

As of 26 April 2024, the Polish government has offered, and the Lithuania governments is considering, repatriating Ukrainian men living in their countries to Ukraine, so that they can be drafted into the Ukrainian military. It is a “very rough estimate” that some 300–400,000 men alone are living in Poland, but it is not clear how a forcible repatriation could be carried out in practice.^[70]

• 2022 mobilization in the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic
• 2022 Russian mobilization