Main points
- In 2026, the mechanism of reservation from mobilization will continue to operate in Ukraine, but with clear requirements for workers and enterprises.
- The main restrictions include a reservation quota of up to 50% of workers and conditions on wage levels.
How reservation from mobilization works in 2026 / Collage by Channel 24 (Photo by Getty Images)
In Ukraine, the mechanism of reservation from mobilization will continue to operate in 2026, but not everyone will be able to receive a deferral. The new rules provide for clear requirements for both employees and enterprises.
In case of non-compliance, men may be denied booking even in critical areas. This was reported by lawyer Svitlana Krutorogova in a comment to UNIAN.
How is a reservation made in 2026?
Mobilization reservation is a mechanism that allows a conscript to be temporarily exempted from conscription if he works in a field that is important for the functioning of the state. This involves ensuring the stable operation of the economy, the defense industry, infrastructure, and key services during wartime.
The list of such areas includes state authorities and local governments, defense-industrial complex enterprises, critical infrastructure facilities, the medical industry, transport and logistics, the agricultural sector, as well as IT and cybersecurity. International humanitarian organizations play a special role.
In most cases, the employee does not submit the documents themselves. This is done by the employer, who forms lists of those liable for military service and submits them through electronic services, in particular, Diya.
After that, the information is checked, and the relevant authorities make a decision – to grant a deferral or refuse. If the documents are submitted through digital services, the process can take from one to three days. If submitted through state authorities, you need to wait up to several weeks.
It is important that all information about the employee is up-to-date in the registers, including the military registration system. Any inaccuracies may be grounds for refusal.
What restrictions apply to businesses?
One of the key restrictions in 2026 remains the reservation quota. Most companies can reserve no more than 50% of their military-enlisted employees. This means that even in critical companies, some employees may remain without deferment.
Exceptions are only provided for certain enterprises with special status (for example, in the energy or defense sectors). They can submit reservation lists for up to 100% of their personnel.
One of the main conditions for obtaining a reservation is the level of salary. In 2026, an employee must receive at least 2.5 times the minimum wage, which is more than 21 thousand hryvnias.
In addition, the employee must be officially employed. If a person works without registration or receives a salary “in an envelope”, he will not be able to apply for a reservation, since his data is missing from the relevant state registers.
It is also mandatory to have a current military registration document and updated data in the accounting system.
Why might a reservation be denied?
There may be several reasons for refusing to grant a deferral. Among the most common are:
- absence or irrelevance of military registration data;
- the presence of another reason for postponement;
- exclusion of a person from military registration;
- non-compliance of the enterprise with the criteria of “critically important”;
- exceeding the booking quota;
- financial problems or debts of the enterprise.
All of these factors are taken into account during the inspection, and even one discrepancy can be grounds for rejection.
What are the booking deadlines?
The validity period of the reservation depends on the decision of the authorities and the specifics of the employee's work. Usually, the postponement is granted for 6 or 12 months, sometimes until the end of mobilization. After this period, the procedure must be repeated.
At the same time, there is a risk of the so-called “transition period”: if the previous reservation has already expired and a new one has not yet been issued, the employee loses protection from mobilization.
At this time, territorial recruitment centers may call on such an employee on a general basis.