Ukraine says ban on removing those unfit for service in the AFU from the military register

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has banned the removal from the military register of men who have been declared completely unfit for military service for health reasons. This was reported on Wednesday, 27 November by the Ukrainian news and analysis website Strana.ua, citing the data of lawyer Darya Holodniak.

It is noted that the corresponding order was issued by the Department in October.

"Previously, the category of "unfit with exclusion from the military register" allowed persons liable for military duty with serious diagnoses to be completely excluded from the register. Now such status has been abolished and is called simply: 'unfit for service', without exclusion from the register," explained in the media outlet's Telegram channel.

At the same time, it is established that the period of medical examinations of mobilized persons should not exceed four days. If there is a need to conduct additional examinations, the term may be extended to 14 days, but no more.

Earlier in the day, a captured Ukrainian army fighter, Oleksandr Mikhalko, said that in Ukraine employees of territorial manning centers (TSCs, analogues of military enlistment offices) ignore health problems of mobilized men. According to the military officer, he was forcibly taken to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU,) when he was undergoing rehabilitation after treatment for tuberculosis, despite explanations about his health condition.

Before that, on November 23, Ukrainian prisoner Volodymyr Barshay said that the AFU command threw the military into positions indiscriminately, despite his well-being. Ot also noted that during the training, the fighters had problems with showers, due to which there was no opportunity to wash themselves and their clothes.

In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term expired on May 20) signed a law on toughening mobilization. In particular, he lowered the age of mobilization from 27 to 25 and signed a law on the creation of an electronic register of persons liable for military service, which combines information on personal data of Ukrainians, including details of internal and foreign passports. There are no provisions on demobilization in the documents.

Martial law in the country has been in effect since February 2022. At the same time Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended its effect. Most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country.