Deferrals in Reserve+, fuel sales and more: important changes awaiting Ukrainians in May

May 2025 promises to be full of changes that will affect both young people and other citizens of Ukraine. Find out what changes you should prepare for now

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May 2025 will bring important changes for Ukrainians regarding mobilisation, traffic standards, environmental initiatives and educational processes. Let's take a look at what to expect.

Reduction of the term of military service for some conscripts

In May 2025, Ukrainians subject to military service who were previously considered ‘limited fit’ due to health reasons will undergo basic military training (BMT) in a shortened format.

Now, instead of 45 days of training, these individuals will undergo 30 days of training, and the physical demands will be reduced.

This measure applies to military personnel serving in rear units, security units, medical and logistics units.

New features in Reserve+. New deferrals and discounts on fines

From 8 May, two new types of deferrals from mobilisation will appear in the Reserve+ app:

▪️ For persons temporarily unfit for service for a period of 6 to 12 months.

▪️ For citizens who have minor children or wives in military service.

In addition, the Ministry of Defence plans to introduce the option of paying fines for violating military registration rules through the app with a 50% discount. This feature will be available in the summer of 2025.

Changes to traffic light standards

On 1 May, a new standard for installing traffic lights in Ukraine will come into force. Instead of the traditional green colour, emerald green will now be used.

There will also be new chevron arrows and bicycle and pedestrian traffic lights, which will improve visibility and ensure ease of movement for people with disabilities. These changes apply to new installations and renovations of traffic lights, not the replacement of old ones.

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Addition of bioethanol to petrol

From 1 May 2025, all Ukrainian petrol stations will be required to add at least 5% bioethanol to petrol. This additive, which helps reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, is already used in Europe.

As a result, despite the fact that bioethanol is more expensive than regular petrol, experts predict that the price of fuel for consumers will remain almost unchanged, and in an optimistic scenario, it may decrease by 3-5 UAH per litre.

Main session of the NMT: when and how to take the test

The main session of the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) will begin on 14 May and will last until 25 June. Participants will be able to download their test invitations, indicating the date, time and place of the test.

We have already told you how many points you need to get in and what to do if you do not pass the NMT threshold.

If you miss the main session, you can take an additional session from 14 to 25 July. To do this, you must register between 9 and 14 May.

We remind you! The government is launching a new era of taxation for digital platforms. The bill provides for preferential taxation, new reporting requirements and harmonisation with EU standards.

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