Ukraine plans to introduce substantial fines for conscripted men who have traveled abroad and failed to return within the legally permitted timeframe. According to lawyer Liliia Kalashnykova, speaking to novyny.live, liability arises only in cases where the local Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRSSC) was not informed of the man’s location during his absence or if he was sent draft notices but did not respond.
The expert explained that overstaying abroad is not punishable by itself if the TRSSC has up-to-date information about the person and no official summons were issued during his absence. However, ignoring draft notices or losing the legal right to deferment from mobilization changes the situation. In such cases, administrative fines ranging from 17,000 to 25,500 hryvnias are applicable.
Those at risk include men who did not return from leave or business trips on time, as well as those who lost deferment eligibility — for example, fathers of three or more children after the eldest turns 18. These rules also apply to other categories entitled to deferment.
To avoid legal trouble, experts recommend promptly updating personal data, notifying authorities of any change of residence, using the “Reserv+” app to monitor official notifications, and reacting quickly to “red” alerts in the system. If a fine is issued, it should be paid as soon as possible to prevent further sanctions or being placed on a wanted list.
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