No Deferment Rights in the Operational Reserve: How Ukrainians Can Lose Their Exemption.

Categories of the Operational Reserve

According to Novyny.live: Some citizens who have completed military service may be placed into the operational reserve. However, reservists are not entitled to a deferment or reservation unless they formally obtain an exclusion from the reserve. This means individuals in the operational reserve must follow specific procedures to be released from military obligations.

The operational reserve is divided into two categories. The first category (OR-1) includes former service members under 40 years old with combat experience. The second category consists of individuals who completed mandatory service before 2014 or served under contract. A citizen placed in the first category of the operational reserve can be discharged from the reserve on health grounds.

Procedures for Exclusion from the Operational Reserve

To be removed from the operational reserve, one must submit a report to the commander of the unit where they served. Exclusion from OR-1 is possible based on a military medical commission's conclusion of unfitness for reserve service. As Yuriy Ayvazyan notes,

“exclusion from OR-1 on health grounds is possible only with a military medical commission's finding of unfitness for service in the military reserve”

It is important to note that if the commander or the territorial recruitment center (TCC) fails to act, citizens can turn to court. Vladyslav Deriy emphasizes that

“you need to submit a report to the commander of the unit where you served, demanding your removal from the military operational reserve”

Thus, citizens who have completed military service must be aware of the possibility of being placed in the operational reserve and the steps required to obtain an exclusion from it.

Given the current situation in the country, the importance of the operational reserve and clear regulation of exclusion processes has become especially relevant. Citizens need to be informed about their rights and options to avoid misunderstandings and ensure proper fulfillment of their obligations. This also underscores the need for transparency and efficiency on the part of military structures in their interactions with reservists.