"A summons on the phone" has no legal force, but carries a fine: how it actually works

In Ukraine, the military registration system is gradually transitioning to a digital format, and the key tool for this has become the mobile app “Reserve+”. Through it, those liable for military service can check their status, reservations or deferrals, and also receive new notifications.

At the beginning of early 2026, a new feature appeared in the app — notifications about sending a summons by mail. If the territorial center for recruitment and social support sends a document by registered letter through “Ukrposhta”, the user can receive a push notification with information about the date of the summons and the time to appear.

At the same time, it is important to understand: such notifications are purely informational and have no legal force. Even if a person reads the notification on their phone, this is not considered official delivery of a summons. Legally significant remains only the paper document received against a signature or issued according to the established procedure.

The notification feature works only at the user’s discretion — it must be enabled separately in the app settings. Thus, the state provides an additional tool for informing, but does not change the delivery procedure itself.

The delivery algorithm for summonses remains unchanged: they are sent by mail or delivered in person. However, since 2024 new rules have been in force — after receiving a notice from the post office the person liable for military service has only 3 working days to pick up the letter. If this is not done, the letter is returned to the TCC with a mark indicating the absence of the addressee. In that case the law considers the person properly notified. This means that consequences may follow even without actual receipt of the document. For failure to appear there is administrative liability — a fine from 17 000 to 25 500 hryvnias under art.210¹ of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. Moreover, a ruling can be issued without a court decision. If the person continues to ignore summonses, they may be declared wanted.

In more serious cases a criminal proceeding may be opened under art.336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for 3 to 5 years of imprisonment for evasion of mobilization.

Thus, the new “Reserve+” feature does not change the rules but makes the process more controlled. It is effectively a warning: if a notification arrives — act quickly, otherwise the risk of fines and legal problems increases significantly.

As a reminder, earlier we wrote:

• Draft notices on the phone, automated checks: is mobilization becoming total?
• Global restructuring of mobilization: what the Rada and the Ministry of Defense are preparing
• To prove she was not on the register, a woman was advised by the TCC to register
• Information about “removal of TCCs from the streets” was not confirmed
• Didn’t go to the TCC and didn’t download Reserve+: you can get up to 25.5 thousand hryvnias in fines and account blocking