Soldiers under Contract 18-24 to receive mandatory mobilization deferment
New bill secures mandatory draft break for 18-24 contract soldiers (Photo: 128th Separate Assault Brigade / AFU GenStaff)
Soldiers serving under Contract 18-24 may soon receive a mandatory one-year deferment from mobilization after completing their service, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on Feb. 10.
Defense Ministry, in collaboration with the Parliament's Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, has refined the bill and will resubmit it to the Verkhovna Rada for a vote this week.
"This is about justice, predictability, and guarantees for young people who voluntarily choose the path of a defender. We must keep our promise," Fedorov wrote.
The minister expressed hope for parliamentary support, noting that these tools build trust in the recruitment system and the state while helping to "build a modern professional army where service is a conscious choice."
Contract 18-24 program for young volunteers was launched in Feb. 2025.
On June 27, the government approved the initial draft bill providing a one-year deferment from mobilization for volunteers who completed service under this contract.
By July 30, then-Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the Cabinet submitted the bill to the Verkhovna Rada.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
