Over 23 thousand male students expelled from Ukrainian universities
Source: Mykhailo Vynnytskyi
In a clear bid to weed out draft-dodging schemes, Ukrainian universities have expelled 23,448 men over the age of 30 in just 4 months before the start of 2024 school year. Among other reasons cited for students’ dismissal are poor academic performance, absenteeism, and other violations. According to reports, 5,805 students were removed following inspections by the State Service for Education Quality, while the rest were dismissed based on internal university reviews.
Deputy minister Mykhailo Vynnytskyi argued that many of these men used it as a scheme allowing to avoid conscription. “It’s clear that those expelled were never intending to be genuine students; they sought to use the status to avoid other obligations. Their removal shows the system’s ability to self-regulate,” Vynnytskyi added.
In addition, law enforcement has opened eight criminal cases against university officials, while the Ministry of Education had to revoke the licenses of several educational institutions that were found helping draft-evasion schemes.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.
A kamikaze drone flies directly toward an armored personnel carrier. But instead of penetrating the hull, it explodes on a steel screen. The crew survives. This is the new reality for Ukrainian forces, who have received enhanced protection thanks to the Metinvest project within “Steel Front of Rinat Akhmetov”.
To commemorate the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, “Bukvy” has compiled data on the largest donors supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Among them there are charitable foundations and businesses. The list includes, in particular, foundations that provide assistance exclusively from their own resources, without fundraising (such as SCM by Rinat Akhmetov, Epicenter, etc.).