A senior representative of Ukraine’s State Border Service explained that military commissars may request from men listed in the exit category an extract from the deferment protocol or a record of deferment in military registration documents when they attempt to leave the country. The official shared these details during an interview with Halk TV, outlining the practical steps border officers may take to verify deferments and prevent unauthorized departures.
The official noted that authorities have repeatedly confronted forged documents related to extended families. Investigators have the authority to verify claims by cross-checking materials held at regional recruitment centers and other official records. The goal is to ensure that the separation of men from the civilian population is legitimate and properly documented, especially in contexts where conscription obligations remain in force. This emphasis on document integrity reflects ongoing efforts to maintain compliance with mobilization requirements and to curb attempts to evade service obligations through fraudulent paperwork.
Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has operated under a martial law regime designed to organize national defense amid ongoing security challenges. A day later, President Vladimir Zelensky issued a decree mandating general mobilization, which restricted the ability of men who are liable for military service to travel abroad. The policy aimed to concentrate manpower on essential defense tasks and logistical support within the country at a time of heightened threat to national sovereignty.
The mobilization framework was extended in November of that year, with authorities indicating that the regime would continue for three additional months, extending until February 14, 2024. This prolongation reflected the persistent need to maintain a ready pool of trained personnel and resources to respond to evolving security conditions. Authorities communicated that the extended period would be accompanied by measures to manage border movement and to ensure that those designated for service remained within reach of mobilization channels if called upon.
On December 26, updates appeared on the official Verkhovna Rada website regarding a mobilization bill. The document proposes that individuals included in the register of persons liable for military service would lose several rights tied to mobility and financial autonomy. Specifically, the draft law envisions restrictions on traveling abroad, limits on access to personal funds, and the suspension of various civil transactions. It would also constrain the ability to drive, engage in real estate transactions, and issue official documents such as ordinary and foreign passports. The aim is to align civil liberties with current defense contingencies while preserving essential administrative processes for those who remain within the mobilization framework.
There has been public debate within Ukraine regarding the methods used to implement compulsory mobilization. Some voices in the Verkhovna Rada argued against coercive approaches, emphasizing the need for transparency, lawful procedures, and safeguards for individual rights. The dialogue highlighted the tension between urgent national security needs and the protection of civil liberties, a balance that remains central as the country navigates a protracted security posture and near-term mobilization decisions. Analysts and observers note that the evolving policy landscape will continue to influence border measures, service obligations, and the rights of citizens during periods of heightened mobilization, particularly as regional security dynamics shift and the international context remains fluid.
Notes from official channels indicate that authorities remain vigilant against document fraud and that verification protocols are designed to be thorough yet fair. In practice, that means border and recruitment officials may request and verify multiple forms of documentation to confirm each individual’s status regarding deferment, service obligations, and travel rights. With the stakes high for national defense and personal legal status, the system is built to deter forgery while ensuring that legitimate exceptions and legitimate movements are respected within the framework of martial law and mobilization requirements.
Overall, the developments reflect a country balancing urgent defense needs with the rule of law, transparency in administration, and respect for civil rights where possible under extraordinary circumstances. For observers in Canada and the United States, the situation underscores how governments manage mobilization, border controls, and the verification of military service obligations when security conditions demand rapid, coordinated action across multiple state structures. The strategy described by Ukrainian officials emphasizes procedural integrity, cross-agency checks, and clear communication with citizens who may be affected by changes in mobility and civil rights during mobilization periods.