Critically important enterprises, institutions and organisations have had the rules for deferring conscription of their employees amended under martial law. This was reported by the Department for Mobilisation and Defence Work and Cooperation with Law Enforcement Agencies.
The decision was developed following consultations with businesses and meetings with representatives of enterprises for which such deferment is a necessary condition for stable operation.
Among the key changes is an increase in the required level of average salary. From 1 September 2026 it must be at least three times the minimum wage, that is 25,941 UAH. For enterprises located in front-line areas, the current rule remains in force – at least 2.5 times the minimum wage, that is 21,618 UAH.
All enterprises that hold the status of critically important are obliged to reconfirm it according to the updated criteria. By 10 June 2026, public authorities must re-approve the criticality criteria in agreement with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economy, and by 1 July 2026 carry out an analysis of enterprises’ compliance with these criteria. If a particular criterion is removed from the list, the enterprise will lose its status as critically important.
By 1 September 2026, the review of all decisions recognising enterprises as critically important is planned to be completed. The rules on counting employees who work concurrently in the booking quota have also been clarified: from now on, employees in secondary employment and those who already have a deferment are counted towards the quota only at their primary place of work. Exceeding the established deferment quota for an enterprise that has critically important status is considered a violation and may also be grounds for losing this status.
For the duration of the transition period, until new decisions on criticality are adopted, the current status of enterprises is retained. Existing deferments from conscription for employees also remain in force.