Police to Receive Lists of Hundreds of Thousands of Draft Evaders: Defense Ministry Drafts New Mobilization Law Amendments

Overhaul of Mobilization Legislation Underway

According to ХВИЛЯ: Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s team is preparing amendments to Ukraine’s mobilization law that would shift the responsibility for tracking down individuals marked as 'wanted' in the 'Oberih' system from Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs) to the National Police. Under the proposed changes, police would be authorized to open criminal cases against wanted persons, detain them, and escort them directly to TRCs. Currently, law enforcement deliberately avoids pursuing those with a 'wanted' status if they have simply ignored a summons or failed to appear before a military medical commission (MMC). This reform aims to close a critical gap in enforcement.

Key Proposals on the Table

Under the new framework, criminal liability would only apply after an individual completes the MMC and receives a mobilization order but then fails to report for military service. To streamline the process, police would gain the authority to compile administrative reports on wanted individuals. Authorities plan to hand over data on several hundred thousand people listed as wanted-including their names, addresses, and phone numbers-to police officers for direct action.

“And next: information on several hundred thousand people who are wanted in the Oberih system is being handed over to the police-with names, addresses, and phone numbers. Then the police must track them down,” said a source within a state authority.

Implementing these changes would require amendments to both the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. Street-level notification duties would also be fully transferred to the police. In early April, David Arakhamia, head of the 'Servant of the People' faction, reported that approximately 2 million people are currently wanted by TRCs.

“There’s the issue, for example, of 2 million people wanted [by TRCs]. Under [Fedorov’s] plan, they are all removed from the wanted list, but there is a specific procedure for what to do next,” Arakhamia added.

These proposed changes signal the Ukrainian government’s intent to tighten oversight of mobilization compliance. Shifting search and enforcement duties from TRCs to the police could fundamentally alter how military conscription is managed, while also raising questions about citizens’ rights. The scale of the wanted list-numbering in the hundreds of thousands-highlights the serious challenges the country faces during wartime and underscores the need for a comprehensive solution.

As the government prepares to enhance the mobilization process, it's essential to understand the broader implications of these changes. The proposed amendments not only aim to improve enforcement but also align with ongoing reforms in the military recruitment system. For instance, the introduction of digital tracking for millions of individuals is set to revolutionize how recruitment and mobilization are managed in Ukraine, potentially leading to a more efficient and accountable system.