The Ministry of Education started raids on universities: how they expose fictitious graduate students.

According to inkorr.com: The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has begun large-scale inspections of universities to identify fictitious graduate students who use education as a way to avoid mobilization. The corresponding measures are being conducted in close cooperation with law enforcement agencies and the State Service for Quality of Education. This was reported by "Ukrainian Pravda."

Deputy Minister Mykola Trofymenko emphasized that education should not be used as a loophole to evade conscription. He stressed that this is a signal for Ukrainians of draft age:

"a grade ticket" will no longer save.

Checks on 'draft dodgers'

Control over education is focused on the quality of training and the reality of the educational process. Trofymenko noted that the Ministry of Education and Science categorically rejects the idea that graduate or doctoral programs can serve as a means of evading service.

"We absolutely do not consider studying at any of our educational levels, including at the doctoral level, a way to avoid mobilization," he emphasized.

Several serious violations have already been identified. In particular, the Classical Private University attempted to retroactively include about three thousand 'graduate students' in the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (UDEDB). The license of this institution was immediately revoked, and inspections are ongoing throughout the country.

The situation in graduate education

Today, about 15 thousand graduate students are studying in Ukraine, and the number has stabilized after expulsions. Here are some important figures from recent years:

• 4,600 entrants in 2025;
• 10 thousand graduate students (budget and contract) for 2024;
• 7 thousand budget places currently, so the total number will increase.

Some students have already been expelled based on monitoring data and decisions of universities. The admission campaign is continuing under close scrutiny: the main focus is on real scientists, not those trying to evade.

In 2024, the Ministry simplified access to graduate education by distributing budget places according to new criteria: priority is given to academic potential, not gender or age. However, 80% of entrants in 2025 are men of draft age, as reported by the Verkhovna Rada.

Inspections of more than 100 universities that started in the spring revealed falsifications: the Security Service and the National Police uncovered schemes organized by officials and teachers who 'covered' draft dodgers.

These measures are an important step in combating the illegal use of educational programs. Inspections aim not only to improve the quality of education but also to ensure fairness in the educational process, which has become particularly relevant in the context of mobilization measures during the war.