The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has acknowledged errors in the military registration of women, which have resulted in some being erroneously classified as “wanted.” This issue has drawn significant public attention, particularly in light of recent reports from various regions, including Kharkiv.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the inaccuracies stem from legislative changes that occurred between December 2021 and March 2022. During this period, regulations expanded the list of professions subject to mandatory military registration. Subsequently, these regulations shifted to a voluntary basis for most professions, except for medical personnel. However, data from educational institutions and government bodies may have already been recorded in the military register under the previous rules.
The Ministry indicated that both technical and human errors contributed to the incorrect entries in the register. In one notable case that gained widespread attention, a woman was mistakenly placed on the military register and subsequently listed as wanted, although this status has since been revoked by officials in Kharkiv.
In response to these incidents, the Ministry of Defense and military leadership are conducting internal investigations and preparing regulatory amendments. The command of the Ground Forces and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have initiated inquiries to clarify the circumstances surrounding the violations of registration protocols by officials at local military recruitment centers.
The Ministry has proposed changes to the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution No. 523, which would allow for the removal of incorrectly created records from the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Military Personnel, and Reservists. Additionally, the Ministry has outlined steps for individuals who believe they have been improperly registered or have incorrect data in the “Oberih” system.
- Utilize the “Online Data Correction” service in the “Reserv +” application;
- If there is no response to the online request, submit a written application for clarification (correction) of information to the local military recruitment center;
- Send a copy of the request to the General Staff of the Armed Forces;
- Challenge the decisions or actions of officials through administrative or judicial procedures.
The Ministry of Defense has committed to addressing these inquiries and taking measures to rectify potential inaccuracies, including those related to data processing or transfer to electronic systems. The changes aim to enhance the military registration system and facilitate citizens’ fulfillment of their obligations to defend Ukraine.
Recently, reports have emerged of women from various Ukrainian cities, across different ages and social statuses, finding themselves on military registries without their consent or the requisite qualifications. These cases include mothers of multiple children and women whose husbands are serving in the Armed Forces.
In light of these developments, the Ground Forces command has reiterated that there are no plans to mobilize women and that no mechanisms are being developed for this purpose. They emphasized that there have been no legislative changes regarding this process, and women may join the Armed Forces only on a voluntary basis, with military registration required solely for those with medical or pharmaceutical qualifications.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has addressed recent inaccuracies in the military registration of women, which have led to some being mistakenly classified as wanted. The Ministry is investigating these errors and proposing regulatory changes to improve the registration process.