In Ukraine, plans are underway to strengthen responsibility for illegal exit abroad, particularly for those liable for military service. The corresponding government draft law proposes to criminalize such violations. This is reported by TSN.
Illegal exit from Ukraine: what changes the draft law proposes
The draft law No. 13673, which has been in the Verkhovna Rada since 2025, is already on the agenda. The document proposes to transfer some violations from the administrative to the criminal sphere.
In particular, it provides for:
the introduction of criminal liability for illegal border crossing
punishment for leaving with the intention of evading mobilization
increased sanctions during martial law or a state of emergency.
Currently, such violations are punishable administratively, but the government believes this is insufficient to deter offenders.
Punishment for leaving abroad: what lawyers say
Lawyers explain that criminal liability will primarily apply during martial law.
Main nuances:
the use of forged documents is already punishable criminally
other violations may remain administrative outside martial law
sanctions may include significant fines or imprisonment
«For these offenses, it is proposed to impose penalties in the form of a fine from 7 to 10 thousand untaxed minimums of citizens' incomes (119,000 - 170,000 UAH) or imprisonment for up to three years,» explains the lawyer.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs states that the number of illegal border crossings has significantly increased in recent years:
2021 - over 3 thousand cases
2023 - nearly 10 thousand
2024 - over 20 thousand
2025 - thousands have already been detained in the first quarter.
President Volodymyr Zelensky previously emphasized that part of the men of conscription age left abroad temporarily but remained there for years, often violating the law.
The government explains the need for changes by stating that existing administrative sanctions do not have a sufficient deterring effect. The draft law aims to strengthen control and responsibility during the period of martial law.
Recall that in Ukraine, courts are massively issuing fines to employees of territorial recruitment centers for negligence in military service during a special period. The fines range from 17 thousand UAH to 34 thousand UAH for violations of the requirements regarding video recording of their work.