Mobilization of reservists in 2025: a lawyer discusses the new regulations.

What should workers prepare for and which documents should they have ready? Odessa lawyer Alexey Shalaru shared insights with journalists from Novini.LIVE.

Mobilization in Ukraine

The decision to potentially call up reserved specialists is entirely legal and does not contradict mobilization processes. However, as the lawyer notes, this could have negative consequences for critical enterprises, such as drone manufacturers that support the country's defense capabilities. The loss of such workers could jeopardize the supply of essential resources for the military, which may significantly impact frontline successes.

"Members of the Verkhovna Rada say that this is indeed legal. But I don't understand and completely disagree with that. How can the state mobilize a person who manufactures drones? This would jeopardize the entire enterprise. Therefore, in my opinion, this is legally incorrect," believes Alexey Shalaru.

This also applies to workers who were reserved not through the "Diia" app. There are instances when data about such individuals has not yet been updated in government registries. In such cases, the lawyer emphasizes that it is crucial to have all documents confirming this status on hand to avoid additional problems.

"A person must have a document stating that they are reserved. When a company reserves them, it issues a special document. Or an extract from 'Diia', which is also considered valid," says the lawyer.

Worker Reservation

It is possible to defend the right to deferment, but the lawyer notes that courts are currently overwhelmed with similar cases. Although they often recognize the fact of mobilization as illegal, the reality is that avoiding service is still unlikely. The trend shows that courts are increasingly siding with the TCC, making the fight for deferment even more challenging.

"They can be contested; I have had positive cases in my practice. But there is a nuance. Some courts rule that the call-up was illegal, but they cannot release the person from the TCC. It turns out: called up illegally, but you still have to serve," notes the lawyer.

However, such decisions can be appealed in the Supreme Court, and the further development of events will depend on its conclusions.

Substandard Mobilization

Lawyer Alexey Shalaru specifically points out issues within the mobilization process itself. According to him, the TCC is currently more focused on quantity rather than the quality of future soldiers. Yes, it is important for them to simply recruit people. However, as the military themselves say, a significant portion of the recruits often proves unsuitable for service and may be demobilized just a few days after mobilization.

"I communicate with many brigades. And the guys say: they send us five people, of whom three will likely leave soon. Why take such individuals at all? Yes, he may not have timely completed the documents. But he will be released back, while the state has already spent resources on him," adds the lawyer.

Mobilization of Those Aged 50+

The mobilization of men over 50 also has its nuances. By law, they are subject to general conscription, and the TCC emphasizes that such citizens are typically assigned to support roles, such as drivers or mechanics. However, as the lawyer notes, there have been instances where men in this age category were sent to assault brigades, which contradicts initial promises.

"Someone said that such individuals would not be mobilized, but that is not true. In my practice, there was a case where they attempted to mobilize a 59-year-old man with numerous chronic illnesses. And the doctors at the VVK confirmed that he was only fit for service in the rear." — says Alexey Shalaru.

Such cases are also confirmed by the military on the front lines, where infantrymen aged 54-59 were sent to the brigade. But, according to the lawyer, they will not be able to perform combat tasks effectively due to their age. Therefore, the mobilization system itself needs to be changed.

"We need quality mobilization, not just metrics. If the TCC called up a person who is genuinely motivated, that is a plus for them. But sending someone who does not want to and will not do anything, I don't think that makes sense," concludes the lawyer.

Undoubtedly, the issue of mobilization in Ukraine requires profound changes and clear regulation. However, citizens themselves play a crucial role in this process. Timely document updates and proper status registration are key to ensuring that individuals belonging to categories exempt from conscription can protect their rights and avoid unforeseen situations.

As a reminder, we wrote about five key conditions for reservation;

We also reported that the Ukrainian government decided to provide reservation from mobilization for workers in the gas supply sector.