The European Commission said it “took into account” the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to suspend the provision of services in diplomatic institutions to men of military age.
How reports The publication “European Truth”, referring to representatives of the EC at a briefing in Brussels, Anita Hipper, a representative of the European Commission, said that The EU directive on temporary protection continues to apply, regardless of the gender and conscription status of citizens:
“We have taken note of this announcement. I have no specific comment regarding the temporary protection directive. We do not discriminate based on gender or conscription status of individuals.”
EC spokesman Eric Mummer added: “It is not for us to comment on the decision of the Ukrainian government on the measures necessary in view of the conflict.”
How reported our publication, from April 23, consular services for Ukrainians from 18 to 60 years old living abroad become unavailable. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has instructed to temporarily suspend the provision of consular services by all diplomatic missions of the country for male citizens aged 18 to 60 yearssays the letter from the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrey Sibiga.
The restriction of access to consular services is being introduced in connection with the “continuing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine” and in order to prevent Ukrainian citizens from avoiding “the responsibility to resolve the issue of military registration,” the letter states. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs order is valid “until further clarification is received” on the application of the law on strengthening mobilization, which will come into force in May:
“Taking into account paragraphs 6 and 16 of part one of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine “On the legal regime of martial law”, in connection with the ongoing large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in order to prevent citizens of Ukraine from avoiding the obligation to resolve the issue of military registration by territorial centers, recruitment and social support and the presence of military registration documents, I instruct, from April 23, 2024, to temporarily suspend the performance of consular actions on applications from male Ukrainian citizens aged 18 to 60 years.”
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba explained the decision taken to terminate consular services abroad. He stated that Ukraine will not provide services to those of its citizens abroad who have shown their indifference to the issue of the survival of the state.
He notes that the obligation to update your documents in the TCC existed even before the adoption of the new law on mobilization. And staying abroad “does not relieve a citizen of his responsibilities to the Motherland.”
Men liable for military service from 18 to 60 years old will now be able to obtain passports only on the territory of Ukraine. The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution according to which Ukrainian men of military age will no longer be able to obtain international and internal passports outside of Ukraine. The government adopted the corresponding resolution on April 23, 2024. Document made public on the Cabinet of Ministers website.
According to the innovations, obtaining a passport of a citizen of Ukraine, a passport for traveling abroad for male citizens aged 18 to 60 years is carried out at the territorial body/territorial division of the State Customs Service. At the same time, such passports are not forwarded to a separate unit or foreign diplomatic institution of Ukraine for issuance.
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