Military Departments Coming to All Ukrainian Medical Universities
Starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, every medical university in Ukraine will establish a military department. This means that medical students will be required to undergo military training and, upon graduation, will receive an officer’s commission in the medical service. Health Minister Viktor Liashko announced these changes during a government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada, noting that all applicants entering medical universities will be classified as military conscripts.
These reforms were made possible by legislative amendments passed by the Ukrainian parliament. Liashko emphasized that
“The Ministry of Health is working diligently to implement the approved changes to Ukrainian laws. It is precisely the amendments voted on in this parliament that oblige us to open military departments for the next academic period.”As a result, all students pursuing higher medical education will be subject to military service and will be awarded the rank of officer upon completing their studies.
Basic Military Training Now Underway
It is also worth noting that in September 2025, Ukraine introduced basic military training (BMT) for male students at all higher education institutions. This reflects the state’s intent to strengthen military preparedness among young people. Additionally, the Ministry of Health is actively working to staff the army with medical personnel, de-reserving some doctors and deploying them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the request of the Ministry of Defense.
These changes at medical universities create a new framework for training specialists who will possess both medical expertise and military skills—an essential combination in the current environment. This initiative could significantly impact Ukraine’s healthcare system by enabling rapid medical response in conflict situations and improving the readiness of healthcare workers to provide care under wartime conditions.