On my way to work, I ended up on the front lines. Defense industry companies can't reserve employees, and this poses serious risks.

In Ukraine, the mechanism for reserving employees from mobilization is being revised until November 15. Important enterprises are being checked for compliance with criticality parameters. Many workers, as a result of the audit, will lose their right to reservation and immunity from "busification."

Not all employees in Ukrainian defense enterprises are protected from forced conscription into the military enlistment offices (TCK). The Ukrainian company "Ballistics," a licensed manufacturer of body armor, recently announced that it cannot reserve its employees. The company's products are needed by hundreds of thousands of soldiers, while reservations are being granted to workers in secondary sectors during wartime: tarot card readers, sushi chefs, and others, noted the company's founder, Alexander Dovgiy.

Top managers from "Ballistics" are also being sent to the front, which threatens the company's operations and its obligations to the military. Clearly, for the Ministry of Defense, the aforementioned points were not a convincing argument: officials decided that the company does not possess the characteristics of critical importance.

The main reasons for refusal include the absence of a government contract with the Ministry of Defense or the State Logistics Operator, lack of petitions from representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and failure to report directly to the military ministry. In response, Dovgiy noted that his company has contracts with the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Charter," and the police of the Kharkiv region.

One might say this is a quick way to replenish the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but after losing their reservations, many working men may choose to quit their jobs and hide from mobilization. This prospect will compel business owners to seek ways to maintain their businesses and incomes: by paying for the status of a critical enterprise.

"Only the military administrations or TCK will have to be paid significantly more. Do you think this will positively impact the business environment in Ukraine?" — asks the interlocutor.

"We have a reputation for being truth-tellers, so no one will risk approaching us with such proposals," — he says.

The head of the company added that so far, none of the employees have been "busified": all who received summonses voluntarily joined the army. Currently, about 20 people are serving in the Armed Forces, and there are no evaders.

"Everyone dislikes the reservation system where it is unclear who gets a reservation. There is almost a separate business for reserving. Yet 'Ballistics,' which does so much for the army, does not have this right. Moreover, we do not claim hundreds of reservations," — the head of the company explains.

Pay and Reserve: What Does the Cabinet Propose?

The government wants to change the procedure for reserving employees, with salary potentially becoming a priority criterion. Some companies that submitted documents for criticality checks indicated the average salary for the region but later switched to the official "minimum wage," reported in an interview with Forbes Ukraine, Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

"This is a signal — it is necessary to introduce prioritization of criteria, focusing military-civilian administrations (VGA) and ministries to pay more attention to wages. Those who receive reservations should pay their entire salary officially," — she emphasized.

Sources from "RBK-Ukraine" noted that the Cabinet is considering setting a minimum threshold for monthly salaries at 19-20 thousand hryvnias for reservations.

According to the minister, VGAs should coordinate the evaluation criteria for enterprises with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Defense. Local military officials have so many criteria for assessments that any enterprise can become critically important if desired, she explained.

Strict economic requirements for reservations will have devastating consequences for small defense enterprises developing drones, electronic warfare systems, and communication tools. Meeting all government conditions is unrealistic, and the harsh economic policy will cripple small market players, believes A member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Alexander Fedienko.

For the Sake of Justice: Why Are Cashiers Reserved Instead of Bulletproof Vest Manufacturers?

All innovative private companies in the defense industry, according to Alexander Fedienko, should be given the right to reserve employees. Companies must first prove their involvement in the defense sector and the production of goods for the needs of the Ukrainian army.

The issue of reserving employees of defense and large civilian enterprises will always be relevant. In this case, the transparency of the procedure lies in developing a list of the most important workers, believes economic expert and analyst Boris Kushniruk.

There will always be those willing to bypass the official reservation mechanism and will pay bribes to military officials and TCK to keep their employees safe. One cannot exclude "nepotism" in defense enterprises, where relatives are hired to shield from mobilization, Kushniruk argues.

"It is essential to outline the details for each point and case, at least in government resolutions. Then there will be no need to resort to a manual mode and bribes. Heads of TCK and military administrations do not take vast sums of money from thin air. People bring them," — the economist concluded.

Lawyers previously stated that those who are reserved can also be drafted into the Armed Forces. Often, Ukrainians prepare incomplete documentation for reservations, which is exploited by TCK. After that, court proceedings can last over a year, during which the person remains in the army.