Students will be prepared for mobilization: new law introduces changes

Ukraine is considering the possibility of restoring mandatory military training for students of medical and pharmaceutical educational institutions. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported draft law No. 12276 in its first reading, which provides for the return of such training for students who meet the appropriate medical criteria and have successfully passed the selection process.

These changes aim to enhance the country’s defense capabilities and establish an effective system of military medical education. It is noted that military medicine in Ukraine is currently not functioning sufficiently, and the demand for qualified specialists in this field remains high.

The explanatory note to the draft law states that it is planned to restore the training of reserve medical service officers. Today, out of nine state medical universities, only four have military departments. Most students undergo training voluntarily and at their own expense, which creates a shortage of personnel for the army.

The bill proposes to transform training into a systematic, mandatory, and state-run project that will ensure a steady flow of trained medical professionals to military hospitals and medical units.

Additionally, starting September 1, 2025, Ukraine will introduce basic general military training for students across all specialties. This discipline will be mandatory for all students, regardless of gender, to lay the foundations for defense knowledge in young people.