Court Orders Draft Office to Grant Student Deferral Due to Full-Time Enrollment

Ruling by the Lviv District Administrative Court

According to Главком: In a recent decision, the Lviv District Administrative Court ruled that the local territorial recruitment center (known as the TCC) acted unlawfully when it denied a full-time university student a deferral from military mobilization. The court has now directed the TCC commission to re-evaluate the plaintiff's application and ordered the defendant to reimburse the plaintiff over 600 hryvnias in court fees.

The plaintiff had completed his mandatory military service and was discharged into the reserves in May 2024. Starting September 2024, he enrolled in a bachelor's degree program as a full-time student. In 2025, he submitted a request for a deferment to the TCC, but the commission refused, citing two main reasons:

• an allegedly incomplete set of documents;
• the plaintiff's classification as part of the operational combat reserve.

However, the plaintiff emphasized that he never signed a reserve service contract nor consented to being placed in the reserve.

Court Findings

After reviewing the case, the court determined that the plaintiff meets the legal criteria for a deferment due to his full-time studies. A certificate from the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (USEDE) was accepted as proper proof of his eligibility. Moreover, the court noted that the defendant failed to provide any evidence of a signed reserve service contract, which led to the annulment of the TCC commission's refusal decision.

While the court did not grant the deferment itself, it compelled the TCC to reconsider the student's application-a significant step in the proceedings. This case unfolds against the backdrop of martial law and general mobilization, which has been in effect in Ukraine since 2026. As a result, this ruling could have substantial implications for other students facing similar circumstances.

This case underscores the importance of upholding student rights and freedoms during military mobilization. The court's decision not only offers a pathway for the specific plaintiff to obtain a deferment but also has the potential to set a precedent for other students encountering comparable issues.

At a time when many young people are continuing their education amid war, such judicial rulings can profoundly impact their lives and future plans.