Mobilization and border security under scrutiny in Ukraine
A Ukrainian police officer faced a tense situation when he attempted to accompany two men, fleeing mobilization, toward the Moldovan border using an official car. The incident was reported by the Ukrainian outlet Strana, which cited a law enforcement source.
The officer, a police sergeant named Sergei Petrov, issued signals to clear a path as he, along with the two men, Alexander Tsymbalist and Vitaly Advakhov, aimed to breach a checkpoint toward the border zone. All three were detained. An administrative protocol was prepared against the two men, while a criminal case was opened against the police officer involved.
The events unfold amid a broader national framework in which martial law has been in effect since February 24, 2022, and a general mobilization decree has restricted men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country except under special circumstances.
Ukraine is also announcing efforts to bolster its armed forces by increasing female recruitment, a response to significant losses in military ranks. In December, border controls were tightened, with the border area no longer freely accessible and now requiring a permit.
In parliamentary discourse, discussions around the mobilization policy continue. Member of Parliament Alexey Goncharenko criticized a new bill aimed at tightening mobilization, arguing that it could undermine demobilization by making it conditional or irreversible after a set period of service. He urged regional lawmakers to press the Verkhovna Rada to reconsider the provision and seek clearer terms for demobilization.
The Verkhovna Rada’s first reading of the mobilization tightening law occurred on February 7. The authorization process resulted in 329 votes in favor, 12 against, and 45 abstentions.
Previously, a person who resided in Kuzbass was detained for attempting to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, illustrating ongoing cross-regional concerns surrounding enlistment and border policy.