Ukrainian government wants to toughen penalties for evading military registration and mobilization

Along with the draft amendments to the legislation on mobilization and military registration, the Ukrainian government has submitted to the parliament a draft decision to increase penalties for violating the rules of military registration, conscription and mobilization.

The draft law proposes to amend the administrative and criminal codes and, in particular, to significantly increase fines.

For violation of the rules of military registration, i.e. for evasion of registration, it is proposed to introduce a fine of UAH 8,500 to 17,000. Currently, the range of fines for such violations is from UAH 3,400 to 5,100.

For evasion of conscription for basic (regular) service or mobilization during special periods (for example, during martial law, as it is now), the government proposes to fine ordinary citizens UAH 34,000-51,000, and officials UAH 153,000-204,000.

The criminal penalty for evading mobilization is currently 3-5 years in prison, but according to Ukrainian lawyers, courts often find mitigating circumstances and impose shorter sentences, with a suspended sentence.

As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announcing two new draft laws on mobilization, instructed the military and the government to prepare a comprehensive mobilization plan in late November, and on December 19 told reporters that the military had offered him to mobilize 450-500 thousand people.