Gorbenko: tightening of deferment rules will increase the number of draft evaders, not mobilized soldiers

People’s Deputy from “Servant of the People” Ruslan Gorbenko has warned that tightening the rules for military deferments will not lead to an increase in the number of servicemen, but will only increase the number of draft evaders.

He made the statement in an interview with Ukrainian media.

According to Gorbenko, if companies uncover abuses during an audit and dismiss deferred employees, those employees will simply go into evasion — rather than report to territorial recruitment centers.

“Fine, we conduct an audit of these companies, uncover abuses, directors dismiss these people, and then these people evade service. That means there were roughly 200,000–300,000 conscripts and somewhere around 1.3–1.5 million draft evaders, and their numbers will simply grow by 20%. What’s the result? A minus for the economy in terms of taxes. No more people reached the recruitment centers. If we don’t change our approach to holding evaders and AWOL personnel accountable, then at most 5–10% of those who lose their deferments will end up in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Gorbenko said.

The deputy also warned that if the government makes an unjust decision, the Verkhovna Rada will quickly respond and annul the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution.

Gorbenko noted that the prime minister is beginning to recognize the need for a comprehensive approach to the problem.

“The prime minister is gradually beginning to understand that the issue cannot be resolved by brute force — it needs to be approached comprehensively: an audit of disability status, students. And, frankly speaking, the military are raising the question of young people leaving the country,” the MP said.

The government is preparing new deferment rules. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky announced a tightening of penalties for unauthorized abandonment of a military unit and evasion of military service. According to him, the number of people with deferments, postponements, and those simply evading military service is greater than the number of those who are serving.