Ukraine prepares sanctions against draft evaders: account freezes and service restrictions

Ukraine’s military ombudsman Olha Reshetylova has announced that draft bills on sanctions against persons evading military service have already been developed in the country.

She made the statement in an interview with Ukrainian media.

According to Reshetylova, evaders could face freezing of bank accounts, restrictions on the use of driver’s licenses, and limited access to administrative services.

“This is a set of measures that will allow for more active pursuit of persons evading mobilization and, shall we say, restrict their freedom of movement and access to certain services provided by the state. I believe this should be fair with respect to servicemembers who have already been serving for a long time and need to be replaced,” the ombudsman said.

Reshetylova clarified that the relevant draft bills have already been prepared but have not yet been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada.

Earlier, in June, Verkhovna Rada member from the Servant of the People faction and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Fedir Venislavsky said he was working on a draft bill to create a registry of draft evaders. At the time, he promised to submit the document to the Rada within one to two months.

The Rada has also said that the mobilization reform will primarily affect evaders who are currently being sought by territorial recruitment centers.