Unofficial translation of the information provided 

by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

 

Myth № 1: The decision deprived all men abroad of access to consular services.

Truth: The decision only affects men of conscription age staying abroad and temporarily suspends the acceptance of new applications from this category of citizens for a limited period of time.

After the end of this period, the acceptance of applications will resume. Men of conscription age who have clarified their data in accordance with the requirements of the law will have the opportunity to apply for consular services, receive their slot in the electronic queue, and attend an appointment at the consulate.

After April 23, Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad  record a decrease in the number of new applications ranging from 20% to 25%, indicating that this concerns only a temporary technical pause for a specific category of Ukrainian citizens, rather than all men or all Ukrainians.

During the technical pause in accepting new applications, state institutions are finalizing mechanisms of military accounting work considering the norms of the new law.

The mechanism for updating and verifying military registration data for men of conscription age temporarily staying abroad is currently being determined among the available options and coordinated by relevant government agencies.

Once this interministerial work is completed, diplomatic missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will publish additional detailed explanations.

Myth № 2: After the mentioned decision, men of conscription age abroad are deprived of consular protection, particularly in case of emergencies.

Truth: The mentioned decision in no way concerns the provision of emergency consular assistance to Ukrainian citizens in case of emergencies (such as traffic accidents, detentions, natural disasters, etc.).

In such cases, consular staff provide, within the framework of the law, necessary consular assistance in full scope to all Ukrainian citizens, regardless of gender, age, or their status regarding military service or other specifics.

Ukrainian consulates operate 24/7 to ensure that no citizen facing trouble abroad is left without assistance. We urge you to contact the "hotline" numbers (only in case of emergencies) in such situations.

Myth № 3: This decision is unconstitutional because the law on mobilization has not yet entered into force.

Truth: Protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad has been and remains a priority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The technical pause in accepting new applications from men of conscription age is due to the need to prepare for the implementation of new rules for providing consular services to this category of citizens in connection with the entry into force of the new mobilization law.

It's not about ceasing to provide services as such, but only about the temporary suspension of accepting new applications for consular services. This decision was forced because the processing time for these applications may exceed the effective date of the new legislation. The goal is to ensure effective and organized service delivery to all categories of citizens amidst changes in the legislative framework.

The term of suspension of accepting new applications is dictated by the time required to make technical changes to the algorithms of the information and communication systems used for performing the respective consular functions, as well as updating subordinate regulatory acts after the approval of the new law.

Myth № 4: The decision suddenly stopped the provision of consular services to all men of draft age abroad.

Truth: All applications for consular services submitted to foreign diplomatic missions before April 23, 2024, are being reviewed and processed by consular staff in full, including applications submitted before this date for the issuance of Ukrainian citizen passports for travel abroad.

So, there was no suddenness involved, as the applications already in progress continued to be processed. The temporary suspension only applies to the acceptance of new applications from a specific category of citizens to refine the mechanisms of providing consular services in accordance with the newly approval law.

Myth № 5: The decision is unfair in numerous cases where men of conscription age are abroad for legitimate reasons or left involuntarily and did not evade their duty to defend the Motherland.

Truth: The decision only temporarily suspends the acceptance of new applications for consular services until the mechanisms for refining military registration data in accordance with legislative requirements are finalized.

After the new mechanisms take effect, every man of conscription age who is temporarily staying abroad will have the opportunity to clarify his registration data, in particular remotely through an electronic portal. If a man clarified his data and has legal grounds for receiving consular services in accordance with the requirements of the law, he will have such an opportunity. This ensures equal conditions and treatment by the state for men both in Ukraine and abroad.

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on a package of consular services modernization for Ukrainian citizens, aimed at simplifying access to consular services for all categories of citizens, reducing processing times, and addressing a range of issues related to increased demand due to the growing number of citizens abroad since 2022.

Myth № 6: This decision violates international conventions on human rights protection.

Truth: The decision is temporary and only concerns the acceptance of new applications. After refining the mechanisms for implementing the new law, the acceptance of applications will resume. There is no question of violating human rights in this case, as every state updates and clarifies its legislation. It sometimes requires changes to the functioning of foreign diplomatic missions and the provision of consular services.