The Ministry of Defense has outlined the rules for deferment after military service
Upon completion of their contract, service members are guaranteed a deferment. The duration of the deferment will depend on the type of contract, length of service, and participation in combat operations. The Ministry of Defense states that the new system is intended to make military service more transparent and fair.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov explained how the deferment system will work after the completion of a military contract. According to him, separate rules are provided for different types of contracts, and the calculation will take into account not only the contract itself but also previous years of service and combat experience. “One of the principles of the new contract system is to fairly take into account the soldier’s past service,” Fedorov emphasized.
He stated that upon completion of service, everyone without exception will receive a deferment. The standard period will be six months. However, in many cases, this period will be significantly longer.
According to the minister, the exact duration will depend on the specific contract the soldier signed and how long they have already served.
Fedorov gave the example of a civilian who signed a 14-month infantry assault contract. If, during his service, he spent four months directly in combat positions, he will receive an additional 12-month deferment for this. “Together with the guaranteed deferment, that’s a year and a half,” the minister explained.
A separate mechanism will apply to active-duty service members. For example, if a soldier has been serving since 2021 and signs a ten-month infantry assault contract, previous years of service will be added to the deferment.
According to Fedorov, in such a case, two years and one month are added to the one-and-a-half-year deferment. “As a result, upon completion of the contract, the soldier will receive a deferment of 3 years and 7 months,” he noted.
The minister emphasized that the main goal of the new system is to make military service more predictable. “The task is to make the military service system predictable and fair,” Fedorov stated.
He also stressed that soldiers who have defended the country the longest and spent the most time on the front lines should be given more time to recover after their service. “Those who have defended the country longer should be given more time to recover after completing their service,” the minister said.
According to him, it is precisely for these service members that the process of discharge from service is planned to be gradually launched by the end of the year. The Ministry of Defense notes that detailed conditions of the new contract system and the mechanism for calculating deferrals can be found on the official website of the Defense Forces’ contract system, as well as by calling the hotline at 1519.
Thus, the ministry aims to create a system in which the length of post-service leave will depend on the soldier’s actual contribution, combat experience, and years of service in the Defense Forces.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is introducing a new system of contracts and payments for military personnel. It provides for three types of contracts, and the highest amounts will be available to service members of infantry units who carry out missions directly on the front lines.
