Applying for a disability deferral in 2026

In Ukraine, during martial law, mobilization applies to most men aged 25 to 60. At the same time, some categories of the population have the right to a deferral, in particular, persons with disabilities.

According to Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On Mobilization”, people with disabilities can receive a deferral regardless of the group or diagnosis. This means that even persons with the third disability group can avoid conscription if they properly prepare the relevant documents.

Since November 2025, the procedure for submitting deferral applications has changed. Now it can be issued not only through territorial recruitment centers, but also at the Centers for the Provision of Administrative Services or using the “Reserve +” application. If all documents are in electronic form, the application can be submitted online.

To receive disability for the first time, you should contact your family doctor, who will issue a referral to the Medical and Social Expert Commission (MSEC). This commission determines the disability group and the validity period of the status, after which you can begin the procedure for issuing a deferral.

The deferral is granted for 6 to 12 months. After this period, the person undergoes a re-commission. In cases of serious illnesses, the deferral may be indefinite, and the status is automatically extended in the “Reserve +” system.

However, men with disabilities may decide to serve voluntarily. In this case, they have the right to enter into a contract with a military unit at their own request.

There is also a possibility that a person with a disability may be mobilized due to the lack of information about their status in the territorial recruitment center. In such a situation, the draft will be considered legal, as no official deferral has been issued.

Therefore, it is important to submit documents on time and check whether data on disability and deferral are entered into the register.

Sometimes the mobilization campaign in Ukraine also covers older citizens, but there are clear conditions under which such persons can be drafted, as well as specific areas of service.