Alternative service during martial law

In the current legislation of Ukraine, there is a concept of "alternative (non-military) service". In particular, in Art. 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine, everyone has the right to freedom of outlook and religion. This right includes the freedom to practice any religion or not to practice any religion, to conduct individual or collective religious cults and ritual rites, conduct religious activities without hindrance. If the performance of military duty conflicts with the religious beliefs of a citizen, the performance of this duty must be replaced by an alternative (non-military) service.

Alternative (non-military) service is defined as such activity, which is carried out instead of performing military service and which aims to fulfill a duty to society - as defined in Art. 1 of the Law of Ukraine "On alternative (non-military) service". In the conditions of war or a state of emergency, separate restrictions may be established on the right of citizens to undergo alternative service with an indication of the period of validity of these restrictions. This law also provides that such service is performed at enterprises, institutions, organizations whose activities are related to social protection of the population, health care, environmental protection, construction, housing and communal services, and agriculture, as well as patronage service in organizations of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine.

The term of alternative service is 1.5 times longer than the term of fixed-term service. The time a citizen spends in alternative service is included in his insurance experience.

Alternative service, namely its application, is a substitute for military service in peacetime, replacement of military service with alternative (non-military) service during wartime is not provided for by Ukrainian legislation. Therefore, such a concept as alternative (non-military service) cannot exist during martial law.