“The direction is right. (…) By what means it will turn out, it is probably still difficult to say. Apparently, it will be necessary to talk specifically about this,” the minister told reporters in the Seimas on Thursday.
“No one will really collect them and take them to Ukraine – it won’t happen.” But (it is possible to restrict those persons – ELTA) from social benefits, work permits, documents – these are options, as I hear from the Polish side as well. So let’s wait and see what option they will offer, maybe it will be suitable for Lithuania as well”, added L. Kasčiūnas.
The exact number of Ukrainians of conscription age in Lithuania is still difficult to determine, the minister admits.
“There are not many such people in Lithuania,” said L. Kasčiūnas.
Ukraine this week stopped issuing new passports to men of conscription age living abroad under legislation announced on Wednesday. It is not yet clear to what extent and for what period this measure will be applied.
The announcement came a day after consular services for men aged 18 to 60 living abroad were suspended pending the implementation of a new mobilization law. Consular procedures in the country “remain unchanged”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine clarified on Wednesday.
ELTA reminds that Ukrainian men have been banned from leaving the country since the beginning of the invasion, with only a few exceptions allowing men to cross the border legally. Some fled illegally, others, who lived abroad until 2022, did not return when the war broke out.
However, Kyiv’s forces are facing difficulties on the battlefield, including a shortage of soldiers. Many soldiers from 2022 February fights with little or no breaks. After a long delay and criticism, the government was forced to take new measures to recruit more soldiers and fight draft evasion.
