Medical Conditions Exempting from Military Service: Updated List for 2026

The list of medical conditions exempting a person from mobilization in 2026 is governed by regulatory documents, primarily Order of the Ministry of Defense No. 402 and the Schedule of Diseases. It is the Military Medical Commission (MMC) that assesses a person’s state of health and determines fitness, temporary unfitness, or unfitness for military service.

The mere existence of a diagnosis does not in itself mean automatic exemption from mobilization. The MMC evaluates not only the name of the condition but also its severity, its effects on the body, the degree of functional impairment, and confirmation through medical documentation. Accordingly, the same condition may have different outcomes depending on its stage, progression, and the available examination results.

In brief: what conditions may exempt a person from mobilization in 2026

In 2026, the grounds for being recognized as unfit for military service are not simply individual diagnoses, but severe, persistent, or complicated conditions that significantly impair bodily functions. The final decision is made by the MMC following a medical examination, review of documents, and, where necessary, additional testing.

The most common grounds for unfitness may include severe forms of:

• infectious and parasitic diseases;
• tuberculosis;
• HIV infection with serious manifestations;
• viral hepatitis with impaired liver function;
• oncological diseases;
• diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs;
• severe endocrine disorders;
• mental disorders;
• neurological diseases;
• diseases of the vision, hearing, and vestibular apparatus;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• diseases of the respiratory organs;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• diseases of the kidneys and urogenital system;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• consequences of injuries, surgeries, wounds, or severe post-treatment complications.

It is important to understand that these disease categories may constitute grounds for unfitness but do not automatically exempt a person from mobilization. The MMC examines the person’s specific condition, not merely the formal presence of a diagnosis.

Which document defines the list of conditions

Order of the Ministry of Defense No. 402 and the Schedule of Diseases

The primary document for determining fitness for military service is Order of the Ministry of Defense No. 402. It approves the Regulations on Military Medical Expert Evaluation and the Schedule of Diseases, on the basis of which the MMC assesses the health status of persons liable for military service.

The Schedule of Diseases is not a simple list of diagnoses that automatically exempt a person from mobilization. Conditions are assessed by article, subparagraph, severity, and degree of functional impairment. For this reason, the current version of Order No. 402 must be verified before relying on any published material.

The Law on Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization

The Law of Ukraine “On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization” establishes the general rules of mobilization, the categories of persons who may be entitled to a deferment, and the general grounds for exemption from conscription. However, the law itself does not set out a detailed medical list of conditions.

Health status is confirmed through the Military Medical Commission. It is the MMC that must determine whether a person’s health permits military service, whether treatment is required, or whether there are grounds for recognizing the person as unfit.

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 560 and medical examination

Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 560 governs the procedure for the conscription of citizens for military service during mobilization. This procedure provides for persons liable for military service and reservists to undergo a medical examination to determine fitness for military service.

In practice, this means that health matters are not resolved verbally or “on one’s word.” The person must undergo a medical examination, submit documents, and the MMC must issue a ruling based on the results of the examination. If the documents provided are insufficient or the condition requires further clarification, additional testing may be ordered.

Why a diagnosis does not guarantee exemption from mobilization

A diagnosis alone does not mean that a person will automatically be recognized as unfit for military service. The MMC assesses not only the name of the condition but also its severity, progression, complications, and impact on bodily functions.

For example, the same condition may have a mild course without significant limitations or, conversely, may lead to persistent impairments, hospitalizations, or the need for continuous treatment. This is precisely why two people with the same diagnosis may receive different MMC conclusions.

The MMC pays attention to several key factors:

• whether the diagnosis is confirmed by medical documentation;
• whether current examination results are available;
• the degree of functional impairment;
• whether there have been hospitalizations, surgeries, or complications;
• whether there is persistent deterioration of the condition;
• whether the person requires continuous treatment;
• whether the state of health is compatible with military service.

It is therefore insufficient to simply inform the MMC physician that “there is a condition.” Medical records, examination results, specialist conclusions, treatment history, and other documents demonstrating the actual state of health must be provided.

Types of MMC conclusions

MMC conclusion	Meaning	When it may apply
Fit	The person may perform military service	Where the state of health permits service without significant limitations
Fit for service in support units	The person may serve outside combat units or in positions suited to their health condition	Where certain health limitations exist but do not preclude military service altogether
Temporarily unfit	The person requires treatment, rehabilitation, or further recovery	Following surgery, exacerbations, injuries, acute conditions, or during active treatment
Unfit with removal from military register	The person is not subject to military service on health grounds	In cases of severe, persistent, or irreversible functional impairments

The wording of the conclusion is of great significance. For example, “temporarily unfit” is not equivalent to full exemption from military registration. It means that after treatment or upon expiry of a defined period, the person may be referred for a repeat medical examination.

Main disease categories that may exempt a person from mobilization

The main disease categories set out below may constitute grounds for unfitness for military service. It is important to note, however, that this does not concern automatic exemption based on the name of a diagnosis, but rather a severe course, complications, or significant functional impairment confirmed by medical documentation.

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Infectious diseases may affect fitness if they have an active, severe, or complicated course. This may include tuberculosis, HIV infection with serious manifestations, viral hepatitis with impaired liver function, and other chronic infectious processes.

For the MMC, what matters is not only the diagnosis but also disease activity, treatment outcomes, laboratory results, medical records, specialist conclusions, and the presence of complications.

Oncological diseases

Oncological diseases may constitute grounds for unfitness where a malignant tumor, metastases, recurrences, active treatment, or severe consequences of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy are present.

The MMC evaluates the stage of the disease, histology results, CT and MRI scans, the oncologist’s conclusions, the treatment administered, and the person’s overall condition following treatment.

Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs

This category includes severe anemias, leukemias, lymphomas, coagulation disorders, thrombocytopenias, and other blood diseases. Grounds for unfitness may arise where there are persistent impairments affecting endurance, risk of hemorrhage or infection, or the need for continuous treatment.

Confirmation requires blood tests, a coagulogram, a hematologist’s conclusion, inpatient discharge summaries, and records of disease progression.

Endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders

Endocrine diseases may be relevant to the MMC where they cause severe complications or require continuous monitoring. This may include diabetes mellitus with renal, ocular, vascular, or nervous system involvement, severe thyroid or adrenal gland conditions, or other metabolic disorders.

The MMC considers the degree of disease compensation, laboratory results, the presence of complications, the endocrinologist’s conclusion, and the prescribed treatment.

Mental disorders

Mental disorders may constitute grounds for unfitness where they are persistent, severe, or recurrent in nature. This may include psychoses, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder with pronounced manifestations, and severe depressive or organic mental impairments.

The MMC considers the treatment history, hospitalizations, psychiatric conclusions, frequency of exacerbations, the impact of the condition on behavior, and the ability to perform duties.

Diseases of the nervous system

Neurological conditions may affect fitness where they result in seizures, impaired movement, coordination, sensation, speech, or memory. Such conditions may include epilepsy, consequences of stroke, multiple sclerosis, severe neuropathies, paresis, paralysis, and consequences of traumatic brain injury.

For the MMC, MRI, CT, EEG, neurologist’s conclusions, discharge summaries, and data on the frequency of seizures or persistence of impairments are important.

Diseases of the vision, hearing, and vestibular apparatus

Impairments of vision, hearing, or balance may constitute grounds for unfitness where they are severe and persistent. This includes significant reduction in visual acuity, blindness, severe lesions of the retina or optic nerve, deafness, significant hearing loss, or pronounced vestibular disorders.

The MMC evaluates specific examination findings: visual acuity and visual fields, fundus examination results, audiograms, and conclusions of an ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, or audiologist.

Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases may constitute grounds for unfitness where they have a severe course, complications, or significantly limit physical exertion. This may include heart failure, coronary heart disease, severe hypertension, arrhythmias, post-infarction conditions, heart defects, or vascular diseases.

The MMC considers ECG, echocardiogram, Holter monitoring, cardiologist’s conclusions, hospitalization records, functional status, and prescribed treatment.

Diseases of the respiratory organs

Respiratory conditions may affect fitness where they are accompanied by respiratory failure, frequent exacerbations, or the need for continuous treatment. This may include severe bronchial asthma, COPD, fibrotic changes, consequences of severe pneumonia, or other pulmonary pathologies.

For the MMC, spirography, CT or chest X-ray, pulmonologist’s conclusions, discharge summaries, and data on the frequency of exacerbations are important.

Diseases of the digestive organs

Digestive conditions may constitute grounds for unfitness where they have a severe course or complications. This may include peptic ulcer disease with hemorrhage or surgery, Crohn’s disease, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, liver cirrhosis, severe chronic pancreatitis, or post-surgical consequences.

The MMC evaluates upper endoscopy results, ultrasound, CT, laboratory tests, gastroenterologist’s or surgeon’s conclusions, discharge summaries, and complication records.

Diseases of the kidneys and urogenital system

Renal and urogenital conditions are relevant where they lead to persistent functional impairment, chronic renal failure, frequent exacerbations, or serious complications. These may include chronic nephritis, pyelonephritis with complications, urolithiasis with frequent episodes, or post-surgical consequences.

Required documentation includes blood and urine tests, renal function indicators, ultrasound, CT, nephrologist’s or urologist’s conclusions, discharge summaries, and treatment records.

Diseases of the skin, musculoskeletal system, and connective tissue

This category includes severe dermatological, rheumatological, and orthopedic conditions, systemic autoimmune diseases, arthritis, spinal and joint pathologies, consequences of injuries, limb deformities, or significant restriction of movement.

The MMC assesses not only pain or complaints but also confirmed functional impairments: MRI and X-ray results, orthopedic, neurological, and rheumatological conclusions, discharge summaries, records of surgeries, and rehabilitation data.

Table: disease categories and what the MMC examines

Disease category	Examples	What is important for the MMC	Documents required
Cardiovascular	Heart failure, coronary heart disease, hypertension, arrhythmias	Stage, complications, functional class, exercise tolerance	ECG, echocardiogram, Holter monitor, cardiologist’s conclusion, discharge summaries
Neurological	Epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, TBI consequences	Frequency of seizures, motor, coordination, sensory impairments, trauma consequences	MRI, CT, EEG, discharge summaries, neurologist’s conclusion
Oncology	Malignant tumors, metastases, recurrences	Stage, disease activity, recurrences, treatment consequences	Oncologist’s conclusion, histology, CT/MRI, treatment records
Mental disorders	Schizophrenia, BAD, psychoses, severe depressive states	Persistence of the disorder, exacerbations, hospitalizations, behavioral impact	Psychiatric conclusion, treatment history, discharge summaries
Vision and hearing	Blindness, deafness, severe myopia, retinal lesions	Examination findings, persistence of impairment, correctability	Ophthalmologist’s conclusion, audiogram, additional examinations
Respiratory organs	Asthma, COPD, respiratory failure	Frequency of attacks, respiratory function, exacerbations, treatment needs	Spirography, CT/X-ray, pulmonologist’s conclusion
Digestive organs	Peptic ulcer with complications, cirrhosis, Crohn’s disease	Complications, surgeries, hemorrhages, functional impairments	Upper endoscopy, ultrasound, CT, laboratory tests, gastroenterologist’s conclusion
Kidneys and urogenital system	Chronic renal failure, nephritis, urolithiasis	Renal function, frequency of exacerbations, complications	Laboratory tests, ultrasound, CT, nephrologist’s or urologist’s conclusion
Musculoskeletal system	Spinal and joint diseases, trauma consequences	Range of motion, pain, deformities, neurological impairments	MRI, X-ray, orthopedic and neurological conclusions, discharge summaries
Endocrine disorders	Diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, obesity with complications	Compensation, complications, need for continuous therapy	Laboratory tests, endocrinologist’s conclusion, treatment records

How the MMC process works during mobilization

The MMC process during mobilization typically involves several stages. It is important not to treat this as a formality, as this is the stage at which all documents confirming the state of health must be submitted.

1. Receiving a referral. The person liable for military service is referred for a medical examination to determine fitness for military service.
2. Examination by physicians. The person is examined by physicians of the relevant specialties. Any complaints or established diagnoses must be disclosed during the examination.
3. Submission of medical documents. Discharge summaries, laboratory results, examination findings, specialist conclusions, and other documents confirming the condition must be submitted to the MMC.
4. Additional examinations where necessary. If the documents available are insufficient or the condition requires further clarification, the person may request a referral for additional examination.
5. Issuance of the MMC ruling. Following analysis of the health status and documentation, the commission issues a ruling on fitness, temporary unfitness, or unfitness.
6. Receiving the conclusion. It is important to obtain documentary confirmation of the MMC conclusion and to verify that the details recorded in it are correct.
7. Next steps. If the conclusion corresponds to the actual state of health, the person acts accordingly. If there are errors or the MMC failed to consider the documents submitted, the decision may be appealed.

What documents to prepare before the MMC

Before attending the MMC, it is advisable to prepare not only the basic documents but a complete medical file in advance. The better the state of health is documented, the lower the risk that important circumstances will be overlooked.

Document checklist:

• passport;
• RNOKPP (tax identification number);
• military registration document;
• medical record;
• inpatient discharge summaries;
• laboratory results;
• MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, or other instrumental examination results;
• specialist conclusions;
• disability documents, if applicable;
• treatment history;
• medication prescriptions;
• results of follow-up examinations;
• documents relating to surgeries, injuries, wounds, or rehabilitation;
• certificates of dispensary registration, where relevant to the diagnosis.

It is advisable to retain copies of all important documents and to keep confirmation of their submission. If documents are submitted to the MMC or the TCC and SP, it is worth recording what was submitted, when, and to whom.

Common errors when attending the MMC

A person may have a genuine medical condition but fail to substantiate it with proper documentation.

Common errors:

• attending the MMC without medical documents;
• having a diagnosis but lacking confirmation of its severity;
• examination results are outdated or do not reflect the current condition;
• no specialist conclusions are available;
• the person fails to disclose all complaints and prior surgeries;
• not requesting a referral for additional examination;
• ignoring inaccuracies in the MMC conclusion;
• not retaining copies of documents;
• not documenting the fact of submitting medical evidence;
• failing to appeal the decision in time;
• relying on forum advice instead of Order No. 402 and official documents.

A separate issue is the expectation that the MMC will independently locate the full medical history. In practice, the person must actively submit documents, explain their health condition, draw attention to important examination results, and if necessary, insist on additional review.

What to do if the MMC found you fit despite a medical condition

If the MMC has found a person fit despite a serious condition, or the commission failed to consider the submitted medical documents, the MMC conclusion should be obtained and the specific circumstances recorded in the ruling should be examined.

The next step is to compile a complete set of medical documents: discharge summaries, examination results, specialist conclusions, treatment records, and records of surgeries or hospitalizations. If the documentation is insufficient, additional examinations should be undertaken.

An MMC ruling may be appealed to a higher-level MMC or through the courts. The appeal should specify which documents were not taken into account, why the conclusion does not correspond to the actual state of health, and which provisions of the Schedule of Diseases may be applicable.

When legal assistance is needed

The assistance of a military lawyer is not required in every situation, but it may be important where there is a risk of an erroneous or purely formal MMC decision. This is particularly relevant when a person has a serious condition but is found fit without proper analysis of the documents.

A lawyer can assist if:

• the MMC failed to consider the medical documents;
• the person was found fit without a thorough examination;
• a referral for additional examination has been refused;
• there are conflicting conclusions from different physicians;
• the diagnosis needs to be cross-referenced against the Schedule of Diseases;
• a complaint against the MMC decision needs to be prepared;
• support is needed throughout the appeals process;
• there is a risk of unlawful mobilization despite a serious health condition.

If you are uncertain whether the MMC has correctly assessed your state of health, seek a consultation. A lawyer will help review the documents, cross-reference the diagnosis against the Schedule of Diseases, and determine the appropriate course of action.

FAQ

Does the mere existence of a diagnosis exempt a person from mobilization?

No. The MMC evaluates not only the diagnosis but also the severity of the condition, its consequences, and the supporting medical documentation.

Can a person with a chronic condition be mobilized?

Yes, if the condition does not involve severe complications or significant functional impairment. The final decision is made by the MMC.

Which conditions most commonly result in a finding of unfitness?

Most commonly, these are severe oncological, cardiovascular, psychiatric, neurological, and endocrine conditions, as well as serious impairments of vision, hearing, respiratory function, renal function, or the musculoskeletal system.

Does disability entitle a person to a deferment from mobilization?

Yes, disability may constitute grounds for a deferment or exemption from conscription. However, it must be confirmed by appropriate documentation.

What documents are required to confirm a medical condition at the MMC?

A medical record, discharge summaries, laboratory results, MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, specialist conclusions, and treatment records are required.

What to do if the MMC failed to account for a medical condition?

The MMC conclusion must be obtained, medical documents collected, and a complaint submitted. The complaint should specify which circumstances were not taken into account.

Can an MMC decision be appealed?

Yes. An MMC decision may be appealed to a higher-level MMC or through the courts.

Is it necessary to update medical documents before the MMC?

Yes. Older documents confirm the medical history, but the MMC assesses the current state of health.

Can the same condition result in different MMC conclusions?

Yes. The conclusion depends on the stage, severity, complications, treatment, and degree of functional impairment.