October 24, 2024The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has submitted an
important draft law that provides for amendments to certain laws of
Ukraine that will ensure that civilians who have returned from Russian
captivity can voluntarily join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“This draft law proposes to restore to a number of categories of
citizens the right to be discharged from military service and to be granted a deferment during mobilization, which were canceled as a result of the adoption of the new Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Certain Issues of Military Service, Mobilization and Military Registration” in April 2024,” – said
Liudmyla Korotkikh, lawyer of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.
In particular, it is proposed to return the norm that allows persons
who were held in captivity as civilians to be eligible for discharge
from military service and receive a deferral during mobilization. It
is envisaged that this provision applies to all citizens in respect of
whom the fact of deprivation of personal liberty as a result of armed
aggression against Ukraine has been established. At the same time, the
draft law proposes to retain the right of civilian hostages to
voluntarily join the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
“Adoption of amendments to the legislation in this particular part is an important step, because political prisoners, civilian hostages and prisoners of war need a long time to rehabilitate after release, as the conditions of their detention are terrible and inhumane, they are usually not suitable for military service. Therefore, this will not only be a step that will demonstrate that Ukraine as a state cares about its citizens who have been captured because of their position, but will also allow us to optimize mobilization activities in this
difficult time for the country”, – she said.