First, briefly about the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 05/22/2026 : this resolution, which was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on May 22, 2026 and will enter into force in the coming days after publication, provides for the renewal of fair reservation. So, under the new rules, reservation has a new clearly defined financial threshold , namely, an increase in the minimum wage for employees of critical enterprises to almost 26 thousand UAH, i.e. 3 minimum wage (for front-line workers, the rate of 2.5 minimum wages of 21,618 UAH has been retained). In addition, a new procedure for accounting for quotas is being introduced , which makes it impossible to manipulate the reservation of persons who work part-time in several companies at the same time, thereby artificially increasing the quota by 50%.
All government agencies must review the criticality criteria within a month , and the status of previously identified enterprises will be subject to review within three months.
These steps are aimed at preserving human resources in sectors that are strategically important for the economy and defense of the state in times of war. At the same time, a transition period is provided for businesses , which guarantees the stability of the current deferrals for the duration of the documentation update.
Key change: New salary threshold for bookings
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has radically updated the reservation system precisely because of complaints about fictitious enterprises that began to provide fictitious reservations for military conscripts who could find them an employee with a deferral for the “quota”. From now on, the requirements for the same “criticality”, that is, the same quota for booking 50% of business employees, are being strengthened, and the criteria are becoming clear in order to avoid abuse. We will discuss the main changes regarding quotas for part-time workers and the mandatory review of the statuses of all enterprises further, but for now let’s start with the level of wages.
One of the expected decisions of the government was to increase the requirements for the average wage level at the enterprise, as this has long been discussed in order to increase financial revenues to the budget and the possibility of financing the salaries of military personnel. This was also done, according to the ministry, so that the booking tool would be used only for the real sector of the economy, and it would simply be unprofitable for fictitious firms to create such activities due to the significant financial burden.
- General requirement: To confirm the status of a critical enterprise, the average salary must be at least 3 minimum salaries – UAH 25,941 .
- For frontline areas: The government has maintained flexibility for businesses in the combat zone and adjacent areas. There, the requirement is 2.5 times the minimum wage — UAH 21,618 .
Again, these changes are aimed not only at weeding out fictitious employment, but also at securing and preserving jobs in front-line regions of Ukraine.
Combating Abuse: Part-time Jobs and Quotas
The government has specified the rules for counting employees to avoid abuses and manipulations in the form of artificially inflating the staff.
- One-Place Principle: Part-time employees are now counted towards the reservation quota for only one workplace.
- Prohibition of double booking: If a specialist already has a deferral under Article 23 of the Law “On Mobilization Training and Mobilization”, he is also counted towards the quota only once.
The new system must operate “fairly and be protected from manipulation,” maintaining a balance between the front and the rear.
Full status overview: Important business deadlines
According to the new Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated May 22, 2026, all enterprises that already have the status of “critically important” must take into account the following deadlines:
- 1 month: During which ministries and OVAs must re-approve their criticality criteria, coordinating them with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy .
- 3 months: Once the changes come into effect, a full review of the status of all businesses will take place . Only those that meet the new strict criteria will be able to retain the right to reserve workers.
What will happen to the existing reservation?
Answering the question that is primarily asked by existing businesses with critical status: Are the old deferrals of critical enterprises with a quota of 50% automatically and immediately canceled? The answer is no. For the transitional period, which is determined by the resolution at 3 months (while the criteria are being clarified and the statuses are being reviewed), the current criticality of enterprises and existing reservations are preserved . This gives businesses time to adapt to new conditions and confirm their role in the country’s life under the updated rules.
Conclusion
The updated reservation system is becoming more demanding on the financial performance of businesses. Raising the salary threshold and auditing all “critical” companies should become the basis of “ fair reservation ” which we have already written about earlier in the framework of the new changes to mobilization. For businesses, this is a signal: economical reservation is possible only with real state support with taxes for the needs of a warring country.
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