Procedure for Passing the Military Medical Commission (VLC) in 2026

What is the Military Medical Commission (VLC)?

According to the definition of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Military Medical Commission (VLC) is a panel consisting of doctors of different specialties. It conducts a military medical examination — a medical assessment used to determine the fitness of conscripts, active-duty servicemen, and persons liable for military service for military duty based on their health condition.

Who is required to undergo the VLC during mobilization?

It is assumed that in 2026 the VLC must be passed by men of conscription age. Women who have obtained medical or pharmaceutical education starting from 2025 are required to undergo the VLC within 60 days after being automatically registered for military service. They must also update their personal data and obtain military registration documents.

During mobilization, the VLC is undergone by:

• persons liable for military service who received a summons or referral from the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center;
• volunteers entering military service under contract;
• active-duty servicemen whose health condition has significantly changed (after treatment of injuries, concussions, or exacerbation of chronic diseases);
• reservists;
• persons previously recognized as “limited fit” after reclassification to “fit for service in certain units”;
• candidates applying to military educational institutions.

Persons recognized as temporarily unfit (for example, due to a severe but treatable illness) must also appear before the VLC within the prescribed period.

Which legal acts regulate the procedure for passing the VLC?

The main regulatory act governing the VLC procedure is Regulation No. 402 on Military Medical Examination, approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and updated on March 30, 2026. This document defines the grounds and procedure for passing the VLC and contains a list of diseases used to determine whether a person is unfit, fit, or fit for service in certain military units. In addition, VLC-related issues are regulated by general legislation, including the Law “On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization” and the Law “On Military Duty and Military Service.”

Where and by whom is the Military Medical Commission (VLC) conducted?

Military Medical Commissions (VLC) may be located at Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRSSCs), in military hospitals, or on the basis of state or municipal healthcare institutions. The commission does not necessarily consist exclusively of military doctors. The overall coordination and supervision of all VLCs is carried out by the Central Military Medical Commission (CMVC) in Kyiv, which also reviews and verifies the conclusions of lower-level commissions.

How to obtain a referral for passing the VLC at the TRSSC

A referral for a VLC examination may be obtained on a voluntary basis if a person wishes to fulfill their civic duty and join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To do so, an application must be submitted to the TRSSC or through the “Reserve+” application. In some cases, when a person arrives at the TRSSC, they may be offered to submit the request via “Reserve+” on the spot. If the person refuses, a referral for VLC may be issued compulsorily, similar to a summons.

According to current legislation, a serviceman whose health condition has changed must undergo a VLC. They may also independently apply for a referral through the TRSSC or via the “Army+” application. Alternatively, they may be referred by the commander of their military unit or by the medical institution where they received treatment. If the hospital where the serviceman was treated has its own VLC, the examination may be conducted there. If not, the serviceman must apply to the TRSSC at the location of the military unit or medical institution where the VLC operates.

What documents are required for passing the VLC

The required documents for passing the VLC depend on who submits the application and how it is submitted. If the referral is issued through “Reserve+”, it is sufficient to confirm identity in the application, as the system already contains the person’s military registration data and automatically adds the necessary documents. When applying through the TRSSC, the following documents are required: a passport, a military registration document, and medical records supporting the reason for referral to the VLC.

The person liable for military service may attach all documents and supporting materials when submitting the application via “Reserve+” or as attachments when applying through the TRSSC. However, this is not strictly mandatory, as medical documents may also be provided directly to the commission during the examination. For repeat VLC examinations (for servicemen treated after injuries), all relevant medical records and discharge summaries must be submitted to the commission.

Preparatory Stage for Passing the Military Medical Commission (VLC): Tests and Examinations

If a person has received a referral, specific deadlines for completing the VLC are established: four days to initiate the commission process and up to two weeks to complete it. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in administrative liability in the form of a fine. Therefore, it is advisable to properly prepare even before receiving the referral.

A person liable for military service undergoes the necessary examinations and laboratory tests for the VLC, including:

• complete blood count (CBC);
• blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis;
• blood type determination;
• urinalysis;
• fluorography or X-ray examination;
• electrocardiogram (ECG).

A delay of several days is unlikely to lead to negative consequences, but prolonged delays of one month or more in completing the medical examination make the imposition of a fine almost inevitable. To prevent such situations, a lawyer from the “DE-JURE” company can explain the procedure for undergoing examinations, provide practical advice on efficient preparation for the VLC within tight deadlines, and analyze preliminary medical results. In case of fines, we assist in appealing the decision in court.

What Mandatory Tests Are Required Before the VLC?

All mandatory tests that must be completed before the VLC are listed in Order No. 402 of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. These include a complete blood count, blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, blood group testing, and a general urinalysis. Additional tests and examinations may be prescribed by doctors during the medical evaluation if necessary.

Medical Examination by VLC Doctors: Who Conducts It?

The medical examination is conducted by a military medical commission formed in accordance with orders and regulatory documents of local administrations.

The VLC typically includes the following specialists:

• surgeon;
• general practitioner (therapist);
• neurologist;
• otolaryngologist (ENT specialist);
• psychiatrist;
• ophthalmologist;
• dermatologist-venereologist;
• dentist.

Each specialist examines the person within their area of expertise, assesses their health condition, and may prescribe additional examinations if needed.

When and How Additional Medical Examinations Are Assigned During the VLC

The Military Medical Commission (VLC) assigns additional medical examinations when a person has a condition that does not fall within the specialties of the commission’s doctors (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, or diabetes mellitus), or when diagnostic equipment required for assessment is not available at the commission’s facility.

In such cases, the individual is referred to another medical institution for consultation with a relevant specialist or for additional testing. Additional examinations are also ordered when there are doubts regarding the person’s health condition, since many diseases listed in Order No. 402 are not exhaustive in their descriptions.

The Role of the Electronic Healthcare System (EHCS) During the VLC

The VLC has access to the Electronic Healthcare System (EHCS), which contains records of all individuals who have ever interacted with the healthcare system, including visits to both public and private medical institutions. The EHCS displays information about a person’s medical history, including which doctors they have visited and who their family doctor is. This allows the VLC to analyze the individual’s health status over a longer period. Referrals issued by VLC doctors are also recorded in the EHCS.

Final Stage of the VLC and Issuance of Medical Conclusions

During the VLC process, doctors complete an act in which each specialist records findings regarding the person’s health condition within their area of expertise. The act is then signed by the head of the commission, who may also request the individual to sign it, although this is not mandatory. Based on this act, the head of the VLC issues a separate document — the official medical conclusion — which has legal consequences. This conclusion is signed by all members of the commission and is entered into the “Oberih” registry, where all persons liable for military service are recorded. The individual may also receive a copy of the conclusion and has the right to appeal it.

What Decisions Can the VLC Make Regarding a Person Liable for Military Service?

The medical certificate, based on all doctors’ conclusions, contains the final determination of a person’s fitness or unfitness for military service. The VLC may classify a person into one of four categories of fitness for military service:

• fit for military service;
• fit for service in non-combat units (training, communications, logistics, support, security units, TRSSC, medical units);
• unfit for military service with removal from military registration;
• temporarily unfit for a period of 6–12 months.

The last category applies to individuals with a severe but treatable condition (for example, tuberculosis) who have a chance of recovery. In such cases, the person must undergo a repeat VLC within the prescribed period.

How Long Is the VLC Certificate Valid in 2026?

During martial law, the VLC certificate is valid for one year. After that, the person must undergo the VLC again. In peacetime, the validity period of the VLC certificate was five years.

What to Do in Case of Temporary Unfitness for Service

If a person is deemed temporarily unfit for military service, they return to treatment and must undergo the VLC again within the set period (six months or one year). If their health condition changes, the commission may assign a different category: fit for service, unfit with removal from military registration, or fit for service in specific units. If the condition remains unchanged, the commission will again declare the person temporarily unfit and set a new reassessment date.

How to Appeal a VLC Decision

A person who disagrees with a VLC decision may appeal it to a higher-level VLC or through the court system. A complaint to a higher-level VLC must be submitted within five days. It should include evidence that the commission’s conclusion does not comply with Order No. 402 of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which sets the criteria for classifying individuals based on their medical conditions. If errors were made during the examination, the higher-level VLC has the authority to cancel the decision of the lower commission and issue its own, more objective determination of fitness.

A VLC decision may also be challenged in court, either after exhausting the administrative appeal procedure or directly after the first-instance decision. However, court proceedings are longer and more complex, and the court does not assign a new fitness category; instead, it may only oblige the VLC to reconsider its conclusion in light of the circumstances established during the case.

Court appeals are particularly appropriate when a medical condition is not clearly defined in Order No. 402 or has multiple interpretations. Qualified legal assistance from the law firm “DE-JURE” can help achieve a review of the VLC decision and obtain a fitness category that corresponds to the actual state of health.