Ukrainian consulates stop providing services to Ukrainian men abroad – media

23 April 2024 10:22

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ordered the heads of all diplomatic missions of Ukraine to temporarily suspend consular actions against Ukrainian citizens of military age until the provisions of the law on mobilisation are clarified. This is stated in a letter signed by First Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, which is available to ZN.UA, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.

“…in order to prevent citizens of Ukraine from avoiding the obligation to settle the issue of military registration by territorial recruitment and social support centres and the availability of military registration documents, I instruct to temporarily suspend consular actions on applications from male citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 from 23.04.2024,”

– reads the letter signed by Sibiga.

For this category of men, only consular actions to obtain an identity card to return to Ukraine are allowed. This order will remain in effect “until further clarification is received on the procedure for applying the provisions” of the newmobilisation law.

In his decision, the First Deputy Minister refers to paragraphs 6 and 16 of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law”. These provisions provide for the following martial law measures:

6) to establish, in accordance with the procedure determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, a special regime of entry and exit, to restrict the freedom of movement of citizens, foreigners and stateless persons, as well as the movement of vehicles;
16) prohibit citizens who are registered with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine or the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine from changing their place of residence (place of stay) without the permission of a military commissar or the head of the relevant body of the Security Service of Ukraine or the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine; restrict alternative (non-military) service.

What does the law on mobilisation provide for?

The main provisions of the document are as follows:

The provision on the right to demobilisation of people with disabilities remains.
Demobilisation in connection with the release from captivity (if the servicemen did not express a desire to continue military service).
Those found to be partially fit will be obliged to re-evaluate within 12 months.
Servicemen and women who sign their first contract are entitled to compensation of 50 per cent of the down payment on a mortgage-backed loan.
Those who received a 2-3 disability group after 24 February 2022 (except for military personnel) are subject to a second medical examination to determine their fitness for service.
During mobilisation, men are required to have a military registration document with them and present it at the request of a representative of the CCC or a police officer. The process of document verification can be recorded on camera or phone.
In the border area and at border crossing points, a border guard may require you to present your military registration document.
Restrictions on driving vehicles for men of the appropriate age at the request of the MCC.
Citizens who are registered with the military may voluntarily register an electronic account of a conscript, person liable for military service or a reservist.
Military personnel are entitled to compensation of 50% of the down payment on a mortgage when entering into their first contract.
Persons liable for military service aged 18 to 60 will be able to obtain documents at foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine only if they have military registration documents .
Persons liable for military service will also be able to obtain a passport and a foreign passport if they have their military registrationdocuments with them.
All servicemen are to be paid a monthly remuneration of UAH 10,000.
Those who evade mobilisation will be punished by a temporary restriction on driving vehicles, based on a court decision.
Instead of conscription, it is planned to introduce basic military service for citizens aged 18 to 25. They will be able to choose the period of service until they reach the age of 24.
There are no plans for compulsory mobilisation of women. They are subject to military registration if they are fit for military service for health and age reasons and have received medical or pharmaceutical education. Women who are registered for military service may be called up for military service during martial law on a voluntary basis.
uAH 70 thousand in monthly payments to those who participate in combat operations “from scratch”.