Ukraine is asking men between the ages of 18 and 60 to return to renew their passports, in a move to ensure fair packaging.
The Ukrainian government announced last week that it would suspend consular services for Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 who reside abroad.
This constitutes a group of 860,000 men Living in the European Union, who must now return to Ukraine to renew their passports. It will no longer be possible to send new passports abroad.
The decision comes shortly after the state lowered the minimum age for marriage military conscription From 27 to 25 years.
On X Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote that it was unacceptable for conscripts to flee the country and then expect favors from their country.
– That's not how it works. Our country is at war, he wrote in a post earlier this week, adding:
Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his duties towards his homeland.
In a radio interview with the BBC, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that the decision was about justice.
– There is a feeling in this country that some people give everything, while others flee the country and decide to wait out the end of the war in a comfortable environment, the spokesman said and continued:
– Then come to Ukraine and formalize your relationship with the enlistment office, or in practice you have to make your choice and basically declare that you are not ready to be associated with this country anymore.
Neighboring countries will help
Kuleba stated that he hopes that countries that have received Ukrainian refugees will support Ukraine in its decision.
This was written by the AP news agency.
Neighboring Poland is home to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. The government had expressed early on that it would help mobilize Ukrainian men for the war.
Latvia and Lithuania also say they are willing to encourage conscripts to return home.
– No one will be forced to leave Lithuania, but these people could be restricted in terms of social benefits, work permits and documents, said Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurinas Kasziunas. According to local media.
The Latvian Foreign Minister stated that Lativa supports Ukraine's goal of ensuring that the army has the people it needs.
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