New Restrictions for AWOL Soldiers and Draft Dodgers Under Discussion in Ukraine.

Potential New Penalties for Military Personnel and Conscripts

According to TSN.ua: In Ukraine, lawmakers are actively considering fresh restrictions aimed at soldiers who abandon their posts without authorization and conscripts who violate military registration rules during mobilization. MP Vadym Ivchenko has outlined possible changes, though no bill has been formally registered in the Verkhovna Rada yet.

According to the information, these restrictions could target financial and administrative matters. They might include:

• bans on banking transactions;
• access to loans;
• notarial services;
• administrative services;
• driving vehicles.

Ivchenko noted that those who go AWOL are being compared to individuals who default on financial obligations, such as failing to pay child support.

“An AWOL soldier is treated like someone who doesn’t pay child support,” he emphasized.

Consequences for Evading Mobilization

Penalties for dodging mobilization can include both administrative and criminal liability. Criminal charges for evading military conscription carry a prison sentence of three to five years. In cases of unauthorized abandonment of a unit, punishments can be even harsher, with imprisonment ranging from five to ten years. Fedir Venislavsky stressed that during wartime, violations of military registration rules must result in stricter penalties.

Currently, approximately 2 million conscripts may be listed as wanted by territorial recruitment and social support centers (TCCs). This highlights the severity of the situation and the urgent need for tighter controls over military registration compliance. Ivchenko also pointed out that in cases of rule-breaking, “they now give this example: if you violate traffic laws and fail to pay the fine, your bank accounts are frozen.”

Thus, the potential legislative changes affect not only active-duty soldiers but also those liable for military service, aiming to enforce greater discipline and accountability during mobilization. Debate over these initiatives continues in Ukraine, and new steps toward strengthening penalties for military discipline violations could be taken soon.

The discussed legal amendments underscore the pressing need to tighten oversight of military registration amid the ongoing war. Introducing new restrictions for service members and conscripts could be a crucial move to ensure discipline and responsibility, which in turn may boost mobilization efficiency and national defense capabilities. These proposals also reflect the gravity of the challenges Ukraine faces in the military domain and the necessity of taking decisive action to address them.