Стас Юрасов That's Life 27 October 2026, 09:09

Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky announced a new social contract for business by December 1. And he mentioned the problem with reservations in IT and miltech

The suspension of some new reservations from mobilization will be associated with massive abuses of the "criticality" criteria, in particular in the IT sector and newly created contracting organizations. Instead, the authorities are proposing that businesses reconsider the rules of the game and conclude a new social contract, under which companies will independently ensure the projected rotation of people to the army.

Nuance in the tech sector: white income does not equal criticality

Koretsky stressed that paying taxes and high wages are a plus for de-shadowing the economy, but they will no longer serve as an automatic pass to receiving armor. Many companies, he said, made it to the lists solely because of financial parameters, rather than real strategic importance for the country’s survival.

The prime minister separately highlighted schemes in the field of technology and contracting companies: "What a large number of enterprises, whether IT or, conditionally, the defense industry, have created, where three drones are made and hundreds of people are booked — I’m conditionally simplifying, hyperbolizing in a certain sense, but it is true. And there are a lot of such cases. Contracting organizations. And it is growing, growing, growing. Therefore, it was necessary to stop tens of thousands of new bookings, which in some cases are dishonest."

According to the prime minister, classic strategic sectors (energy, large defense industry) are overbooked by 90–95%, while the government is terminating schemes with "nominal" defense or technology contracts.

A new social contract: reservations in exchange for planned mobilization

The government’s main message to entrepreneurs is a transition from spontaneous mobilization on the streets to a partnership model between the state and employers.

Soldiers who have been at the front for 4–5 years with injuries need a clear perspective on rotation, and the argument “we pay salaries and taxes” no longer works one-sidedly:

"We need to come up with a new social model together: let everyone be reserved, but enterprises provide a predicted mobilization of people into the army. If a business, entrepreneur, manager takes on such a commitment, then nothing is needed at all, there is no need to look for people on the streets. It’s just a new social contract."

The Prime Minister warned that the lack of a systemic reserve is a strategic threat, especially if the Russian Federation announces another wave of mobilization for 300-500 thousand people: in such a case, the state will find itself in a situation where decisions will have to be made urgently, and "then it will no longer be about reservations and interest, but about survival."

Deadline — December 1

To agree on the terms of the new agreement, the government is launching open consultations with big business and associations, with the participation of the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Defense.

By December 1, the government undertakes to publish the final concept of the contract and the updated reservation procedure.

In parallel, a mechanism is being developed to strengthen accountability for citizens who evade registration and mobilization.

Recall that yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers published a resolution on new reservation rules. According to it, a limit of 95% was set for the energy and defense industries, and the criticality criteria will be reviewed in 10 days.

MPs warned that due to new reservation rules, the restoration of electricity after shelling may be delayed

“Some of the employees will simply quit.” Azhnyuk believes that reducing reservations to 85% will lead to the degradation of the defense industry