Ukrainian parliament passes mobilization bill
MOSCOW. April 11 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian parliament has passed the mobilization bill in the second reading and as a whole, Ukrainian media said on Thursday.
Deputies backed an amendment of the Parliament Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, which crossed out the clause on troops' discharge upon 36 months of service from the bill.
According to the bill, over 25 categories are eligible for mobilization deferments during martial law. These include disabled persons temporarily unfit for military service for six to 12 months, parents of three or more children younger than 18 except those with arrears in alimony, and parents of a child (children) younger than 18 if the other parent of the child (children) is dead, deprived of parental rights, declared missing or incarcerated or if the child is raised by a single parent on a court order.
Deferments are also granted to ministers and their deputies, heads of government agencies and state authorities with the nationwide jurisdiction, parliament deputies, judges, the human rights commissioner, the Accounts Chamber chair and members, employees of military commands of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the State Transport Service, the State Special Communications Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the State Protection Service, the Interior Ministry and diplomats.
Servicemen released from captivity, with confirmed disability, appointed judges, and elected parliament deputies, as well as generals with the consent of the military commander upon the expiry of their contract concluded during martial law can be discharged from service.
The bill allows female soldiers to be discharged from service for family reasons in connection with pregnancy, on parental leave, or wives in families where both parents of children younger than 18 are serving in the Armed Forces.
The bill introduces basic military training, excludes military service by conscription, and allows voluntarily direct conscription of those liable for military service into military units through recruiting.
The mobilization bill envisages exemption from active duty for all civil servants of category A and no more than 50% of categories B and C.
The 100% exemption from mobilization is granted to employees of state authorities, the national police, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Prosecutor's Office, the Economic Security Bureau, the State Emergency Service, courts, and enterprises crucial for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.