Ukraine's New Military Deferment Rules for 2026: Salary Thresholds and Processing Times

Updated Deferment Procedures for Military-Age Personnel in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: Revised regulations for the deferment of military service will take effect in Ukraine on February 1, 2026. These changes impact the minimum salary required for eligibility, application review timelines, and the procedure for resubmitting requests. Notably, the new minimum official salary for employees of critically important enterprises will be 21,617 hryvnias, an increase from the previous threshold of 20,000 hryvnias.

Defense sector enterprises are automatically granted critical status, allowing them to defer up to 100% of their personnel. Decisions on deferment applications will be made via the 'Diia' government services platform within 24 hours, a significant reduction from the previous review period of up to three days. Furthermore, the mandatory 5-day waiting period to reapply after a rejection has been eliminated.

It is crucial to note that having information in electronic registries does not exempt employees from the obligation to possess physical, paper confirmations. If a person's deferred status disappears from the electronic systems, the deferment is automatically canceled. The process to restore a record after a technical failure takes between 1 and 3 days.

Business Requirements for Deferring Employees

To qualify for deferring their personnel, businesses must meet the following conditions:

• The employee's salary must be at least 21,617 hryvnias;
• The business must have no outstanding tax or social security contribution debts;
• The business must comply with regional requirements.

Men are advised to carry a paper extract and a certificate from their employer at all times, even if they possess an electronic deferment, to avoid potential difficulties in unforeseen situations.

The updated rules aim to streamline the deferment process for workers in critically important industries, a key priority for maintaining economic stability under martial law. These reforms are part of broader efforts to balance military needs with essential civilian workforce management.

By shortening application review times and automating the process through the 'Diia' platform, the government seeks to improve the efficiency of managing the workforce in sectors of strategic national importance.