Consular services for Ukrainian men of conscription age have been suspended abroad since Tuesday, 23 April. Find out what the reason is and how the Foreign Ministry explains it

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❗️It's official! Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has confirmed consular restrictions for men of conscription age abroad.

Ukrainian men of conscription age will no longer be able to use consular services abroad from 23 April. This order was given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, ZN.UA reports, citing a document signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.

It is noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine ordered the diplomatic missions of Ukraine to temporarily suspend consular activities. The ban will remain in force until the provisions of the new law on mobilisation are clarified.

The purpose of such restrictions is "to prevent citizens of Ukraine from avoiding the obligation to register with the territorial recruitment and social support centres and to have a military document". The Foreign Ministry refers to paragraphs 6 and 16 of part one of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law".

"I hereby instruct to temporarily suspend consular actions on applications from male citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 from 23.04.2024," the letter reads.

What services will consulates continue to provide?

In the future, Ukrainians of conscription age will only be able to use services related to the issuance of identity cards for returning to Ukraine.

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What are paragraphs 6 and 16 referring to?

The paragraphs referred to by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide for:

6. to establish, in accordance with the procedure determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, a special regime of entry and exit, to restrict the freedom of movement of citizens, foreigners and stateless persons, as well as the movement of vehicles;

16. to prohibit citizens who are registered with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine or the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine from changing their place of residence (place of stay) without the permission of a military commissar or the head of the relevant body of the Security Service of Ukraine or the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine; to restrict alternative (non-military) service.

Restriction of consular services: official statement of Kuleba

The Minister of foreign Affairs wrote in social network X, that he instructed to take measures to "restore the valid attitude to men of mobilisation age in Ukraine and abroad".

"Soon the Ministry of foreign Affairs will provide clarified explanations on the procedure for obtaining consular services under the legislation for men of mobilisation age in foreign diplomatic institutions with approaching the entry into force of the law "On amendments to some legislative acts of Ukraine on certain issues of military service, mobilisation and military registration" and after the entry into force", - stated in the message of the Minister.

The situation with obtaining a passport abroad

As you know, according to the new law on mobilisation, Ukrainians abroad must register for military service. Without military registration documents, men liable for military service may be restricted from receiving consular services. 

In addition, men liable for military service will be able to receive consular services at Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad only if they have updated their military registration data. This can be done by sending the information to the CCC by e-mail, calling the CCC or registering in the electronic cabinet.

The list of services that will be restricted for Ukrainians also includes the issuance of a foreign passport.

We remind you! Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Poland has made exceptions for certain groups of Ukrainians, allowing them to cross the border only with an internal passport. However, the situation has now changed somewhat. Read here whether Ukrainian citizens will be able to enter Poland without a foreign passport in 2024.

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