Ukraine plans comprehensive overhaul of military recruitment and mobilization offices

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is developing a reform package that entails renaming regional military recruitment offices and reorganizing their core functions.

Roman Kostenko, a member of parliament and secretary of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, told LIGA.net that the structures currently known as “regional centers” are slated for a formal name change.

Kostenko stated that these centers presently conduct both social support and mobilization functions under a single administrative roof. Under the proposed reform, these two roles would be decoupled. Units directly responsible for recruitment and mobilization are expected to be restructured under designations such as “recruitment office” or “mobilization office.”

The lawmaker noted that another option under consideration involves transferring mobilization duties to the National Police of Ukraine. However, Kostenko remarked that security forces have expressed opposition to this proposal.

“What must be fundamentally understood here is that transferring duties from military recruitment offices to the police does not constitute a reform,” Kostenko said. “If we intend to solve the problem holistically, methods must be found to ensure that people trust the structures conducting mobilization and to encourage citizens to participate in defending the country. At the same time, the state must make them feel supported throughout this process.”

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense publicly announced its reform plan for the military service system in February. The disclosed plans include the automation of military service exemptions and deferment processes, alongside a comprehensive reorganization of the mobilization procedure.

Kirill Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, suggested that expectations regarding changes to the mobilization system should remain measured.

Budanov stated that the planned modifications would not fundamentally transform the essence of the process. He noted that mandatory mobilization practices stem from a low level of willingness among new recruits to join the armed forces voluntarily.

Citizens in Ukraine regularly file complaints regarding the practices of regional military recruitment offices. The number of such grievances has seen a marked increase in recent years. While 18 individuals filed complaints against these offices in 2022, the figure rose to 514 in 2023. In 2024, 3,312 applications were recorded, and by 2025, the number of complaints reached 6,127.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended the mobilization and martial law measures currently in effect for an additional 90 days at the end of January. This extension mandates that the implementation continues until May 4.

Andrey Podik, head of the communications department for the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command, highlighted risks to the safety of personnel serving in recruitment offices.

Podik stated that incidents of armed attacks against these personnel have occurred, which could increase the tendency for staff to withdraw from their duties. He noted that such a development could damage the mobilization process and the country’s defense capacity.

Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova also commented on the prevailing societal tensions.

Reshetilova noted that some school students have engaged in behavior targeting military personnel, adding that cases of attacks and aggression carried out by draft evaders have increased.