As of today, Ukraine has granted deferments from military service to more than 930,000 citizens with obligations to the state. This figure was reported by Forbes Ukraine, citing a statement from the country’s Deputy Defense Minister, Ivan Gavrilyuk. The news outlet notes that the deputy minister voiced these numbers during a roundtable focused on legal approaches to reserving workers for enterprises. He suggested that the number of people receiving deferments within a single week could push the total past one million. Forbes Ukraine, drawing on his remarks, emphasizes the scale of protections currently in place for those facing conscription and their impact on manpower planning.
Gavrilyuk underscored that mobilization as an instrument for filling the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has not kept pace with the needs of the military. He argued that even if conscription resumes, individuals subject to service should first complete appropriate training, which means the country could incorporate a fully prepared soldier into service only after roughly three to six months. This timeline reflects a broader push to align personnel readiness with the realities of modern warfare and the demands of sustaining long-term operations. The deputy minister stressed that this lag in readiness is a key reason behind the preference for trained reserves and workforce exemptions in the interim.
During the discussion, Gavriluk also observed that a number of enterprises are operating in three shifts, highlighting the continuous demand for labor and the delicate balance between maintaining production and managing defense obligations. This comment points to the close ties between the civilian economy and military mobilization strategies, as the state seeks to keep critical industries functioning while ensuring that draft rules and deferments are applied consistently and fairly.
The official touched on support from Western partners, noting that foreign military aid to Kyiv may not rise in the near term. He indicated that while international backing remains substantial, the future trajectory of aid will depend on a range of strategic and political factors, and that the current level of support—though significant—could stabilize rather than accelerate. This assessment aligns with broader discussions about alliance commitments and the financing of defense systems, weapons, and training for Ukrainian forces as they adapt to evolving combat requirements.
Earlier reports from Ivano-Frankivsk described tense scenes as locals confronted men who were subject to mobilization, detaining individuals associated with the local military commissariat. The incident underscored the social frictions that can accompany conscription campaigns in communities with strong ties to local authorities and a heightened sense of national duty. Analysts note that such episodes reflect the broader psychological and civic dynamics surrounding mandatory service and the public’s perception of government policy during times of heightened security concerns. These events have fed into ongoing debates about how to communicate policy changes, administer deferments, and safeguard civic order while maintaining the momentum of Ukraine’s military program. (Forbes Ukraine)