Ukraine plans to halt consular services for military-age men abroad.
According to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's announcement on Tuesday, all such services will be suspended for these men, except for those returning to Ukraine. The decision aligns with Kyiv's efforts to bolster conscription in response to Russian advances on the battlefield.
Kuleba justified the move as a means to ensure "fair treatment" for men eligible for mobilization. He expressed discontent with the current situation where men of conscription age travel abroad without regard for their country's struggle and then expect services upon their return. He emphasized, "Our country is at war."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon outline the process for military-age men to access consular services. As of January, Eurostat data indicates approximately 4.3 million Ukrainians were registered in European Union countries, with around 20 percent being adult men, totaling 860,000.
Kuleba's directive seems connected to a contentious new law aimed at expediting military mobilization. Scheduled to take effect next month, the law mandates that all eligible men report to conscription offices to update their documents, either remotely or in person, within 60 days. These updated documents will be necessary for receiving consular assistance.
Kuleba stressed that residing abroad doesn't exempt citizens from their duties to the homeland. Additionally, the state passport service announced a suspension in issuing "ready-made documents" in overseas branches due to technical reasons.
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