Homeland Calling: Ukraine Bans Men From Getting Passports, Tells EU To Deport Its Men
In a dramatic turn of events, Ukraine has instituted a sweeping ban on the issuance of passports to military-age men seeking to apply from abroad. This landmark decision restricts the ability of men aged 18 to 60 to obtain travel documents outside of Ukrainian borders, a move that underscores the nation’s escalating efforts to bolster its defenses against the ongoing Russian invasion.
Passport Provisions Tightened
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry laid out the new regulations, which came into effect immediately following an announcement on Wednesday. The provisions, which were clarified a day after Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced the suspension of consular services for the specified age group, will see a halt in processing applications received after 23 April until 18 May.
A Duty to Serve
Minister Kuleba has openly criticized Ukrainian men residing abroad for their absence from the front lines, deeming it inconsistent for those under conscription to live overseas while still expecting state services. “Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the homeland,” he stated emphatically.
Consular Support with Conditions
Embassies and consulates are now tasked with assisting applicants in obtaining a special certificate that signifies their intention to return to Ukraine. This measure comes alongside a directive that prohibits private agencies and vendors from managing passport applications, centralizing the process within government missions.
Renewal Restrictions and Mobilization Law
The new policy also stipulates that Ukrainian men living abroad, within the age bracket of 18 to 60, will be unable to renew their passports at Ukrainian consulates without presenting proper registration documentation. This is part of a broader mobilization law set to take effect, designed to swell the ranks of the Ukrainian military through incentives for volunteers and penalties for those evading the draft.
The EU’s Ukrainian Diaspora
With an estimated 86,000 Ukrainian military-age men currently residing in the European Union, and hundreds of thousands more scattered across the globe, Ukraine faces a critical shortage of troops. The nation’s struggle against a better-equipped and larger Russian military continues, and this latest regulation is a stark reminder of the dire need for manpower in this protracted conflict.
