Ukraine debunks claim of mandatory Reserve+ checks for 18-year-old women
Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation said claims that all 18-year-old Ukrainian women are required to show the Reserve+ app when entering the EU are misleading on Aug. 15.
On August 15, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) refuted claims that all 18-year-old Ukrainian women must use the Reserve+ app when entering the EU. The CCD stated that EU Council Decision 2026/1912 allows verification of military status, but only for applicants seeking temporary protection after July 31, 2026, who are already obligated to serve in the military under Ukrainian law.
This provision applies to both men and women, but does not affect 18-year-old Ukrainian civilian women, female students, or other women without military obligations. The CCD emphasized that Russian propaganda has misrepresented the decision as a blanket requirement for all 18-year-old Ukrainian women. Attorney Kateryna Anishchenko explained that the primary proof of legally leaving Ukraine is a passport with the appropriate border-crossing stamp.
If the legality of departure cannot be confirmed, a person may be required to provide a document, such as via the Reserve+ app, confirming exemption or fulfillment of military obligations. Anishchenko stressed that refusing entry based solely on the absence of a Reserve+ document violates procedure. She noted that military registration is mandatory for certain medical and pharmaceutical professions, but these individuals are not subject to conscription during mobilization.
Some foreign officials have mistakenly equated military registration with a ban on leaving Ukraine, a serious error according to Anishchenko. The CCD advised applicants not to accept a migration authority's refusal as final and to request a written decision, allowing them to appeal if necessary. On July 15, EU member states extended temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war until March 4, 2028.
A new temporary protection rule for Ukrainians was announced on July 30, which changed conditions for applicants with military service obligations. Some EU countries, including Germany, have tightened requirements at the national level, now requiring newly arrived Ukrainian men of mobilization age to prove legal departure or exemption from military service.
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