Mother of Autistic Children Launches Hunger Strike Over Husband's Inability to Be Demobilized

The Case of Yuliia Pylypenko

According to Главком: Yuliia Pylypenko, a Kyiv resident and mother of two children diagnosed with autism, has begun a hunger strike to protest a legal loophole that prevents her husband from helping care for their kids. Her spouse, Vasyl, serves in the military but cannot leave service to raise their children due to Article 26 of Ukraine's Law on Military Duty and Military Service. The couple's children, 7-year-old Vasylina and 5-year-old Ustym, both have autism-Ustym's case being severe.

According to Yuliia, the situation has become critical. She cannot leave the children alone even briefly:

“Two-year-old Ustym became so stressed that he stopped talking just days after his father left. Vasylina's condition also deteriorated. I can't go to the store or pharmacy without the kids, even if they are sick with a fever.”

The Core Issue and Possible Solutions

The problem lies in updated legal rules: a service member can only be discharged to care for a child with a disability if no other individuals are legally obligated to raise that child. Meanwhile, civilian men can receive a deferral for caring for a disabled child without meeting additional conditions.

Yuliia Pylypenko has sent official letters to the Ministry of Defense and the Ombudsman, but the response was:

“There are no grounds for discharge.”

The only path forward appears to be Draft Law No. 11157, which would allow parents of children with disabilities to be demobilized without extra restrictions. People's Deputy Danylo Hetmantsev, one of the bill's sponsors, stated:

• “This is a matter of fairness that cannot be postponed. The Defense Minister opposes it, but we will fight.”

Next week, the bill is expected to be reviewed by the relevant committee, which could be a crucial step toward resolving the issue.

Yuliia Pylypenko represents the interests of approximately 3,000 Ukrainian families facing similar challenges. Ukraine also plans to introduce a new payment matrix for military personnel, with a base monthly payment for enlisted soldiers starting at 30,000 hryvnias. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law on social protection for service members, granting a one-year deferral from mobilization for those who signed the “Contract 18-24” and served 12 months.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa announced preparations for clear service terms with post-contract deferrals, but the situation for Yuliia Pylypenko and her family remains unresolved.

The ordeal of Yuliia Pylypenko and her family highlights the challenges faced by military families with disabled children. Ukraine must now strike a balance between military obligations and the social needs of such families, especially during wartime. Passing Draft Law No. 11157 could be a vital step toward improving living conditions for many families in similar circumstances.

In light of the ongoing challenges faced by military families, recent updates in Ukraine's regulations have aimed to alleviate some burdens. For instance, new child registration rules for families of captives and missing soldiers have been introduced to simplify processes for those affected. This development highlights the broader context of support needed for families navigating the complexities of military service and caregiving responsibilities.