Mobilization of HIV and tuberculosis patients. Ministry of Defense explains.

Assessment of suitability for military service for individuals with HIV or tuberculosis depends on the impact of the disease on their ability to perform tasks in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Individuals with asymptomatic HIV or stable disease forms can serve. Those with immunocompromised conditions are suitable only for rear service, while those with decompensated conditions are unfit. This was stated by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Dmytro Lazutkin, during a telethon.

Lazutkin commented on a post by People's Deputy Oleksandr Fedienko, in which he claimed that due to the updated order of the Ministry of Defense No. 402, people with hearing impairments, mental illnesses, HIV, and tuberculosis have begun to be mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

'It is important to note that the main criterion for fitness for military service is the functionality of the individual, which is determined according to regulatory acts. This means that each case is evaluated separately based on health status and the specifics of the disease,' Lazutkin said.

Men with HIV and tuberculosis may be mobilized, - spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense LazutkinAccording to him, for men with this disease, fitness for service is assessed based on how the disease affects their ability to perform military tasks.

— GLAVKOM (@GLAVCOM_UA) November 14, 2024

'Fitness for military service for individuals with HIV depends on the stage of the disease. Asymptomatic carriage or stable condition is one thing; individuals with asymptomatic HIV carriage or stable disease forms are fit for military service. This means they have the right to defend their country and can do so,' Lazutkin noted.

According to him, individuals with HIV at the stage of immunocompromised conditions can serve in rear units where there is no need to perform combat tasks.

There are also clear criteria established for individuals with tuberculosis, added the spokesperson.

'Active tuberculosis, at least of the lungs, with the discharge of mycobacteria or the presence of pulmonary tissue destruction, automatically makes a person unfit for military service,' Lazutkin summarized.

Recall that People's Deputy Oleksandr Fedienko reported that after the joint order of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health No. 402, individuals with health issues are being mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He wrote about it on social media.

According to Fedienko, he does not understand the motivation of the ministries during the adoption of such an order, but he referred to it as 'complete foolishness.'