Automatic Extension of Draft Deferrals: How the System Works and What to Do If the Notification Has Not Arrived

In Ukraine, the automatic extension of current mobilization draft deferrals continues until October 30, 2026. According to the Ministry of Defense, as cited by RBC-Ukraine, more than 90% of existing deferrals can be extended without re-submitting applications and without visiting government institutions in person. The mechanism operates gradually, so notifications in the Reserve+ app arrive for different users at different times—this is a normal scenario, not a system glitch.

How Automatic Extension Works

The system checks the grounds for deferral against state registry data. If the right to deferral remains valid and is confirmed by the necessary information, there is no need to re-submit an application. Automatic extension applies regardless of where a person previously processed their deferral—through Reserve+ or a Administrative Services Center (ASC). It is important to understand the app's role: Reserve+ itself does not extend the deferral; it merely displays up-to-date data from the state registry. According to the Ministry of Defense, automatic extension is provided for 22 categories of citizens; the key condition remains that the grounds for deferral must stay valid and be confirmed by registry data.

What to Do If There Is No Notification Yet

If the message in Reserve+ has not arrived yet, you need to wait for the verification result. The notification will arrive in any case—both upon successful automatic extension and if the deferral could not be extended. After receiving a notification of successful extension, it is recommended to check how long the deferral is valid for. If the document indicates "until the end of mobilization," it means the deferral is valid until the end of the current mobilization term; the specific date can be viewed in the expanded data of the document. When mobilization is extended, the right to deferral is retained, and for certain categories of citizens, its validity period may also be updated automatically.

If the Deferral Could Not Be Extended

An unsuccessful extension does not necessarily mean the loss of the right to deferral. One possible reason is missing or outdated data in state registries. In this case, you need to check and, if necessary, update the information, then submit a new request via Reserve+ (if the corresponding service is available) or contact any convenient ASC with documents. At the same time, the current deferral remains valid until the expiration of the term for which it was granted, and there is no need to submit an application to the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRC). The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that automatic extension of an existing deferral and processing a new deferral are different services. Currently, 12 categories of citizens can apply for a new deferral online through Reserve+, and the list of online services will gradually expand as data exchange between state registries is streamlined—for example, starting September 10, 2026, online deferral became available for teachers and other educational staff.

Deferral and Reservation: Different Mechanisms

Separate from individual deferrals is the mechanism of reserving liable-for-military-service employees at enterprises. On October 23, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers changed this system: the maximum reservation quota for enterprises in the fuel and energy complex and the defense-industrial complex was reduced from 100% to 95%, and conscripts with deferrals on other grounds are also taken into account in the calculation. According to the clarification from the Ministry of Economy, the quota reduction should not affect personnel without whom basic production processes cannot be ensured, and may primarily affect auxiliary and maintenance staff. These changes do not cancel the automatic extension of deferrals, but it is important not to mix up two different draft protection tools.

Context: Mobilization Extended Until January 29, 2027

Recall that on October 26, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees extending martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days—until January 29, 2027. We are talking about Decree No. 1060/2026 on extending martial law and Decree No. 1061/2026 on extending the term of general mobilization. It is in connection with this extension that the right to deferral for relevant categories is retained, and its validity periods can be updated automatically within the framework of the described mechanism.