Ukraine cancels General Military Training for students, introduces national resistance education.
A new draft law proposes to cancel the General Military Training (GMT) program for students, which was supposed to launch on 1 September 2025, and replace it with a new approach. The bill also introduces new defense administration positions and transfers assets of the Defense Assistance Society of Ukraine to state ownership.
Key Provisions of Draft Law No. 13347
Instead of GMT for university students, the bill proposes improving the "Defense of Ukraine" course for secondary education and introducing a new subject, "Fundamentals of National Resistance", at higher education institutions. The focus will be on practical training of youth for national resistance.
The term "General Military Training" is set to be removed from Ukrainian legislation. As a result, individuals who have not served in the military would no longer be eligible for positions such as prosecutors or civil servants — unless officially deemed unfit for service. Previously, GMT served as an alternative to military service for such appointments.
Resistance Centers and Local Responsibilities
The training of the population for national resistance will be handled by a network of Centers for Citizen Training in National Resistance. Local mayors and municipal heads will oversee their organization, while regional and district councils will fund their operations.
Students with disabilities or from pacifist religious communities will be offered alternative education pathways.
Military Oversight and Property Transfers
The Centers will be monitored by newly established deputy heads of regional and district administrations for defense — active-duty military officers seconded to these roles. Appointments will be made by the Minister of Defense and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
The bill also amends the law on state property management to nationalize assets of the Defense Assistance Society of Ukraine, including facilities under its control as of 24 August 1991.
Background
The legislation was submitted by Oleksandr Zavitnevych, head of the parliamentary defense committee, and other committee members.
