Euroviews. What can Ukrainians abroad and Europe expect from the new Ukrainian Mobilisation Act?

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On 18 May, a new Ukrainian Mobilisation Act entered into force, altering regulations for the Ukrainian mobilisation processes, military service, and military registration to reinforce the Ukrainian army and ensure the continued defence of Ukraine against the ongoing Russian aggression.

The new Mobilisation Act has caused heated political debate in Ukraine but is not merely a domestic concern. Its ripple effects will confront both the millions of Ukrainians living abroad and European governments with tough dilemmas.

So, what does this new act imply for the millions of Ukrainians who have fled abroad – and for the European governments hosting them?

The main implications of the new Mobilisation Act for Ukrainians — affecting those living in Ukraine and abroad alike — are related to amendments concerning who is included and exempted from registration, mobilisation, and military training and the consequences of non-compliance.

First, the new legislation lowers the age limit of who may be mobilised from 27 to 25. It also introduces mandatory basic military service for persons aged 18-25.

A more technical — but potentially highly influential — change is that the category "limited suitability for military service" has been removed, which previously meant that you would be exempt from being sent to the frontlines.

This change implies that most persons who had previously been deemed to have "limited suitability" — meaning, now must undergo a re-examination within nine months.

Second, one of the main new obligations in the new act is that Ukrainian men (and women with medical or pharmaceutical education) between 18 and 60 must update their data in the