Parliament is preparing changes that will eliminate deferrals for students aged 25 and older

The Rada is preparing to abolish deferrals for male students aged 25 and over. Photo: focus.ua

The Verkhovna Rada is preparing amendments to the mobilisation rules, which provide for the abolition of deferrals for men aged 25 and older who have decided to pursue higher, pre-higher or vocational education.

This was announced by Serhii Babak, MP and head of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, on the air of Yedyny Novyny, as quoted by Hromadske.

According to him, the Defence Committee has already prepared a draft law for the second reading, which provides for the deprivation of the right to deferment for men aged 25 and older who enrol in higher, pre-higher or vocational education institutions. At the same time, this is not about restricting access to education, but exclusively about revising the grounds for deferment from mobilisation.

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Serhiy Babak noted that these changes are harsh, but they are being considered in the context of the state's security needs.

He also cited statistics: before the full-scale invasion, there were about 30,000 men over the age of 25 studying in higher and pre-higher vocational education institutions. As of 1 September 2025, their number had grown to approximately 250,000.

According to the deputy, the state has no right to restrict citizens' access to education, but it plans to strengthen control over the actual education of students. The State Service for Quality Education has already conducted a series of inspections, as a result of which nearly 50,000 people who did not actually study but were only formally enrolled in educational institutions were expelled.

In addition, the inspections will also cover the administrations of educational institutions that enrolled such students. Currently, eight criminal proceedings have been opened regarding the mass enrolment of men of conscription age in educational institutions.

We remind you that the Cabinet of Ministers has allowed the expulsion from universities of male students who have been found fit for military service but refuse to undergo basic military training.

Earlier it was reported that between April and August 2024, more than 23,000 men over the age of 30 were expelled from Ukrainian universities.