Prison for trying to leave: Ukrainian government turns the right to freedom of movement into a criminal offense

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has submitted a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada that toughens penalties for attempts at illegal border crossing.

If adopted, Ukrainians who try to leave the country without permission would face not just an administrative fine but criminal punishment — up to three years in prison.

At the same time, the bill appears extremely raw and contradictory. It proposes exempting from liability those who return to Ukraine within three months and voluntarily confess to the violation. But the obvious question arises: why would someone who fled the war willingly return and risk criminal prosecution, especially given that the system is already opaque?

The bill also introduces another controversial measure — criminal liability for exceeding time limits abroad for those subject to military service. Fines could reach 51,000 hryvnias (€1,063), and punishment could extend to five years in prison. However, the document does not specify who would determine the permissible duration of travel or on what basis. In effect, the government seeks to punish people for violating rules that are not even defined.

Equally troubling is the provision on punishment for dismantling border fortifications. In practice, this refers to residents of border villages who profit from illegally ferrying people across. But clearly, this measure could also impact ordinary citizens and be used as a tool to pressure local residents.

Thus, instead of establishing transparent mobilization mechanisms and an honest dialogue with society, the authorities are pursuing repression and the threat of prison terms. Svyrydenko’s bill looks more like an attempt at intimidation than a real solution to the problem.