Undergo a Military Medical Examination in One Day and Not Be Allowed to Leave the Territorial Recruitment Center: When Is a Repeat Medical Examination Lawful?

A valid decision of the Military Medical Commission does not always preclude the possibility of being referred for another medical examination. At the same time, a request by an officer of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center to “undergo another military medical examination” does not, in itself, mean that a person liable for military service is required to do so without proper legal grounds.

Attorney Anastasiia Kapustynska of ETERNIX Law Firm, in her comments to Telegraf, explained how long a decision of the Military Medical Commission actually remains valid during martial law and in which cases a Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center may refer a person liable for military service for a repeat medical examination.

A decision of the Military Medical Commission confirming fitness for military service during martial law remains valid for one year from the date the medical examination is completed.

For example, if a person liable for military service underwent a Military Medical Commission examination in June 2026 and was found fit for military service, the relevant decision remains valid until June 2027.

At the same time, a change of residence, relocation to another city, or registration for military service with another Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center does not, in itself, invalidate an existing Military Medical Commission decision or automatically require the person to undergo another medical examination.

When can a repeat Military Medical Commission examination still be required within that one-year period?

One of the grounds may be a change in the health condition of the person liable for military service. In such a case, the head of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center may refer the person for a new medical examination before the one-year validity period of the previous decision expires.

However, such a referral must be based on specific legal grounds.

“A requirement to undergo another Military Medical Commission examination only a few months after the previous one requires separate legal justification. A verbal statement by an officer of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center that ‘you need to undergo the examination again’ does not, in itself, constitute such justification,” emphasizes attorney Anastasiia Kapustynska.

Additional grounds for referral to a Military Medical Commission are also provided for by Resolution No. 560 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In particular, this applies where the relevant register contains no information confirming that the person has undergone a Military Medical Commission examination, as well as to certain categories of individuals who were previously classified as “partially fit for military service” and have not undergone the repeat examination required by law.

What about a requirement to undergo the Military Medical Commission examination “on the same day”?

Starting the medical examination on the same day the referral is issued does not, in itself, constitute a violation. Ukrainian legislation does not establish a mandatory waiting period between the issuance of a referral and the commencement of the medical examination.

The key issue, however, is not how quickly the examination takes place, but whether the referral itself is lawful.

As the ETERNIX Law Firm attorney summarizes:

“The ‘same-day Military Medical Commission examination’ format may be lawful only if the referral for the repeat examination itself is lawful.”

Therefore, if a previous Military Medical Commission decision is still valid but the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center requires another medical examination, the first step should be to establish the specific legal grounds for such a referral, rather than relying solely on a verbal explanation from an official.

When it comes to military registration and mobilization procedures, it is important to assess not only the requirement imposed by a public authority, but also whether that requirement has a proper legal basis.

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