Declare or Surrender: New Rules for Civilian Handling of Firearms and Ammunition
On November 25, changes to the Law "On Ensuring the Participation of Civilians in the Defense of Ukraine" came into effect. Civilians discovering firearms or ammunition must inform the National Police of Ukraine within 24 hours.
The National Police has the authority to confiscate firearms and ammunition with the following characteristics:
Rifled firearms with a caliber of 12.7 mm or larger and ammunition for them.
Smoothbore firearms with a caliber exceeding 23 mm and corresponding ammunition.
Military-grade weapons and equipment, including machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars, flamethrowers, man-portable air-defense systems, artillery systems, and ammunition for all the above categories.
Weapons and ammunition are used in criminal offenses.
Weapons with removed or illegally altered markings.
Weapons and ammunition are assigned to military personnel or law enforcement officers.
Ammunition is found separately from firearms.
Firearms that civilians declare are not transferred into their ownership but may be legally possessed during martial law.
These changes aim to reduce the illegal circulation of weapons and enhance public safety both during and after martial law.
Cabinet Approves Rules for Transferring Military Personnel Between Units at Their Request
On November 12, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 1291, approving an experimental project to improve the transfer of military personnel between units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The changes apply to military personnel wishing to:
Transfer from non-combat units to combat units.
Transfer between non-combat units.
Transfer between combat units.
Transfer to any other unit based on a conclusion from the Military Medical Commission.
To apply, the service member must submit a transfer request via the "Army+" web portal and provide the following documents:
A copy of the document confirming service in the current unit.
A recommendation letter from the desired unit.
Approval from the commander of the current unit.
Commander approval is not required in the following cases:
This is for all personnel (excluding officers) transferring to combat units.
For permanent staff of training centers transferring to another training center.
When the military medical commission (MMC) determines the service member is fit for service with certain restrictions (in this case, the MMC’s conclusion is added to the documents).
The Armed Force Personnel Center reviews transfer requests within 72 hours and prepares an order within 24 hours. In the first 10 days of the updated service’s operation, 4,500 transfer requests were submitted via the "Army+" system, 4,200 of which were processed, and 900 were approved.
This experimental project aims to use Armed Force personnel resources better and increase service members' motivation by allowing them to choose their units.
Updated Rules for Military Medical Commissions in the Armed Force
On November 7, the Ministry of Justice registered Defense Ministry Order No. 686, introducing changes to the "Regulation on Military Medical Expertise in the Armed Forces of Ukraine." Key updates include:
Reducing the maximum duration of medical examinations to four days, with an extension of up to 14 days allowed.
Updating the section on medical examinations for conscripts and pre-conscripts, emphasizing mandatory digitization through the Electronic Health System.
Revising the schedule of diseases, conditions, and physical impairments used to determine fitness for service and removing wording about exclusion from military registration due to unfitness.
The order also specifies that the chairperson of the Military Medical Commissions at the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers is responsible for organizing the commission’s work and maintaining documentation, including meeting protocols, medical records, and other documents.
These changes aim to speed up the medical examination process and ensure that all Ukrainian citizens remain classified as "military liable" regardless of their health status. This means they are subject to legal requirements on military duty, including updating their data, undergoing periodic medical examinations, and complying with travel restrictions during martial law.
Updated Criteria for Deferment from Service Starting December 1, 2024
From October 15 to November 15, 2024, an audit was conducted of enterprises deemed critical to the economy and essential services.Territorial Centres of Recruitment and Social Support ((TCRSS) personnel assessed the validity of employee deferrals.
The audit revealed several issues that formed the basis for upcoming legislative changes:
The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy must now approve regional and sectoral criteria for determining critical enterprises. Critical enterprises will be regularly reviewed to meet updated deferral requirements.
Mandatory conditions for private-sector deferrals include no outstanding debts and compliance with wage criteria (average wages at the enterprise and for deferred employees must be at least 2.5 times the minimum wage, currently set at 20,000 UAH).
The process for deferring public-sector employees will only be conducted via the Unified State Web Portal of Electronic Services ("Diia" portal).
All enterprises, institutions, and organizations must update their deferred employee lists in accordance with the new criteria by February 28, 2025.
These changes aim to optimize the registration of deferred employees and prevent abuse of the deferral system to avoid mobilization.
Other Updates
In November, 10 State Border Service units gained the right to mobilize volunteers without requiring them to visit TRSSC, per the Cabinet of Ministers decision.
On November 19, 2024, the President signed Law No. 3995-IX, allowing military personnel to designate who will receive financial support if captured or go missing. The analysis of this law was included in the NAKO digest during its review by the government.
On November 21, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada approved a bill easing penalties for military personnel who leave their units without permission. NAKO experts analyzed the changes in their October 31, 2024, report, which influenced the final version of the law. For a more detailed analysis of these updates and other legislative changes, refer to the latest digest prepared by NAKO experts.