“Draft-age men to be attracted to Ukraine with employment opportunities and draft exemptions”, – Chernyshov says

Ukraine is considering luring draft-eligible men back from abroad before the war ends by offering them employment with military deferment.

This information reported according to statements by Oleksiy Chernyshov, Minister of National Unity, during a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada’s Human Rights Committee.

Chernyshov acknowledged that the primary deterrent for Ukrainian men returning is the fear of mobilization. However, he believes that promising military deferment could convince half of the men abroad to return before the war is over.

“Today, the war is not the primary factor preventing men from returning. Undoubtedly, they are intimidated by the possibility of mobilization. Whether this is good or bad is something we can evaluate later, but this is the reality,” Chernyshov stated.

To implement this program, plans include creating “Unity Hubs” abroad, where men would be offered assistance with employment in Ukraine and help resolving issues related to mobilization and military registration.

It is important to note that once men return to Ukraine, they lose the right to leave the country again. Additionally, the rules governing deferment could later be changed, and deferments revoked, as has occurred during recent government-initiated checks into the validity of previously granted exemptions.

There have also been cases where men with deferments have still been mobilized.

Earlier, media reported that the newly established Ministry of National Unity is advocating for Europe to stop providing support to Ukrainians within the EU and has called for draft-eligible men to be denied consular services.