Service members under the “Contract 18–24” Program to be granted a guaranteed deferment

An important component of the “Contract 18–24” Program is the opportunity to receive a one-year deferment from mobilization upon completion of service. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence, and Intelligence completed work on the draft law in question.

Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov urged members of parliament to support the draft law, which will be resubmitted to parliament for a vote this week.

“This is about fairness, predictability, and guarantees for young people who voluntarily choose the path of a defender. We must keep our promise,” Mykhailo Fedorov stressed.

He added that these tools strengthen trust in the recruitment system and the state, while helping build a modern professional army in which service is a conscious choice.

To recap, in February 2025, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine officially launched the “Contract 18–24” Program. This voluntary initiative is directed towards Ukrainians aged 18 to 24 who are willing to join the Defence Forces for a one-year term.