A man was accused of evading military service because he divorced his wife

In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, a man who received a military summons and subsequently filed for divorce in order to become a single parent has been sentenced to up to 3 years in prison for evading mobilization. The court ruled that his actions constituted evasion from military service, as the child’s mother, despite living abroad, could still potentially care for the child.

A resident of Prykarpattya underwent a medical examination in November 2022, which deemed him fit for military duty. He was then issued a summons for military service but avoided complying with it. During the trial, the defendant admitted receiving the summons but refused to accept it, even at the military enlistment office. He argued that he should not be mobilized because his wife had been living abroad for 2 years and he was the primary caregiver for their shared son. Following receipt of the summons, the man initiated divorce proceedings, asserting that his wife did not reside with him and their child upon her return from abroad.

Therefore, according to the judges’ reasoning, the defendant was expected to report for military duty and leave the child alone at home. Ultimately, the court found the defendant guilty under Article 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 3 years’ imprisonment.