Ukraine stops issuing passports to men of conscription age living abroad

The amended legislation announced by the Ukrainian government states that men covered by the measure will not be able to obtain new passports at Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad.

They will be able to do this only at the migration services in Ukraine itself.

The latest measure was announced a day after consular services to men aged 18-60 living abroad were suspended. These efforts reflect an attempt to expand the ranks of the military.

With certain exceptions, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country while martial law is in effect.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces, vastly outnumbered by the Russians in terms of weaponry and personnel, have been steadily losing ground to Moscow’s forces, which recently captured the eastern town of Avdiyivka and are now entrenching in surrounding villages.

Poland and Lithuania support the decision

Poland’s defense minister said late Wednesday that Warsaw could help Ukraine repatriate men of conscription age.

According to the United Nations, there are tens of thousands of Ukrainian men of conscription age on the territory of Poland.

Polish Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Warsaw could help Ukraine by repatriating men of conscription age.

“We have long suggested that we can help the Ukrainian side to ensure that persons subject to compulsory military service go to Ukraine,” the minister told Polsat TV.

“Everything is possible,” he said when asked if Warsaw would agree if Ukraine asked to hand over conscripted Ukrainian men.

According to the February data of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 952,104 Ukrainians were registered in Poland, of which 16% were men of conscription age.

Earlier, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, also spoke about the help to recover the men.

The US has no position

The United States has no position on Ukraine’s decision to suspend the provision of consular services to men of military age abroad, reports “Unian”.

Daniel Sizek, a US spokesman in Brussels, called it a “difficult issue”. “The Ukrainian government has the right to set its own policy. So far, there is no decision or position of the US government to help or not to help Ukraine in this matter,” he said.

He noted that the fate of Ukrainian citizens is primarily Ukraine’s own business, so the authorities should act carefully in this matter.