Following the Ministry of Defense’s statements that over 2 million men in Ukraine are not registering for military service and are avoiding service, the Verkhovna Rada announced its readiness to introduce additional measures to influence such citizens. Government officials emphasize that the problem has become systemic and requires comprehensive legislative solutions.
People’s Deputy Vadym Ivchenko reported on possible innovations. According to him, the relevant bill may be submitted to parliament for consideration as early as March.
He noted that the initiative is at the stage of coordination between the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on national security, defense and intelligence. Consultations with parliamentary factions are also ongoing.
Ivchenko clarified that the proposals came from the military. Among the options being discussed is the application of restrictions similar to those that apply to debtors of alimony payments to persons who evade military registration, as well as to servicemen who voluntarily left the unit (SZCH). At the same time, he emphasized that final decisions have not yet been made, but the approval process is in the final stage.
“These are proposals from the military. They are currently in the approval process. What to do with unauthorized abandonment of units and evaders is being discussed. Among the ideas is to introduce restrictions similar to those applied to persons who evade alimony payments. These are not final decisions, but they are already in the final stage,” Ivchenko emphasized.
According to previous developments, in March they may introduce tougher mechanisms for influencing violators of military registration and persons who have committed evasion. Among the possible measures being considered are:
- ban on traveling abroad;
- restrictions on the right to drive vehicles;
- ban on the use of weapons;
- seizure of accounts and property;
- fines depending on the period of evasion;
- community service or administrative arrest;
- criminal liability in case of malicious evasion.
The parliament emphasizes that all of the above steps still have the status of proposals and may be changed during the consideration of the draft law.
It is expected that the final version of the document will be published after the completion of consultations between the military leadership and the people’s deputies.
