Conscription of Underage Former Military Cadets
According to Ukrainian law, individuals who are under 18 and have voluntarily left higher military educational institutions (HMEI) can be conscripted for military service. This clarification was provided by legal experts, including Vladyslav Derii on the portal Yurysty.UA. This legal nuance arises from Ukraine's ongoing need to mobilize personnel for national defense.
Ukrainian legislation contains a provision permitting the conscription of minors, specifically those who were discharged from an educational institution before turning 18. While the general mobilization age in Ukraine is 25, the status of a person expelled from an HMEI changes. Upon enrollment in an HMEI, an individual acquires the status of a military serviceman. By law, if their contract is terminated early due to a voluntary withdrawal, disciplinary issues, or failure to meet the program requirements, they are automatically considered to be serving on a conscription basis.
Impact of New Rules on the Mobilization Process
Under martial law, such individuals are to be directed to military units. Crucially, upon discharge, the person does not revert to the status of a civilian conscript. This means that the fact of contract termination on one's own initiative is grounds for assignment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, bypassing the standard age restrictions for mobilization.
“After being discharged from the academy, you were registered in the category of those liable for military service and should have been immediately sent to a military unit. If that didn't happen, you got lucky.”
— Vladyslav Derii
Consequently, these new conscription rules could affect a significant number of young people who previously studied at military educational institutions. The legislative changes may substantially impact Ukraine's mobilization process, especially under martial law conditions.
This means young people who did not complete their studies at military institutions can be called up for service regardless of age limits, which may cause concern among their families and society at large. Such developments underscore the urgency of mobilization and the need to replenish the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amid the protracted conflict.