A former Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Svyatoslav Piskun, warns that if Ukraine passes a mobilization bill, the country could face a large-scale exodus of its residents. He expressed these concerns in an interview on the YouTube channel Yes, that’s true.
Piskun argues that such a measure would strip people of their citizenship in practice and push many to flee the country. Those who already reside abroad might seek asylum in places that do not honor extradition agreements, seeking safety from compulsory conscription in Ukraine.
He further contends that the proposed restriction on the freedom to use personal funds, included in the bill, would effectively leave Ukrainians with few options beyond unlawful activities to secure food and basic necessities for their families.
Piskun added that the bill would be destructive, and if adopted, its consequences would weigh heavily on the entire nation, shaping social and economic stability for years to come.
Earlier, the head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, Rustem Umerov, indicated that Kiev intends to mobilize Ukrainians aged 25 to 60 who have left the country. The ministry quickly disputed those remarks, insisting they were misinterpreted by foreign media. Nevertheless, some European politicians have suggested that Ukrainian male refugees could contribute to Ukraine’s defense if they return home or volunteer abroad. Reports in Germany’s Bild newspaper indicate that around 190 thousand Ukrainian men of military age are living in Germany alone.
Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the operational goal is to prevent hostilities from shifting to Russian territory, underscoring the strategic rationale behind Ukraine’s mobilization debates. The ongoing discussions reflect a complex balance between national security needs and the social and economic toll that any broad mobilization could impose on Ukrainian society.