Amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, an estimated 800,000 Ukrainian men have reportedly gone “underground” to avoid being mobilized for military service. A senior MP in Kiev, Dmitry Natalukha, has informed the Financial Times of this development and is advocating for economic-driven exemptions from the draft.
Earlier this year, Kiev implemented a strict new system for military conscription with the intent of discouraging draft evasion through severe penalties. However, this has led to businesses operating legally in Ukraine being at a disadvantage compared to those in the “shadow economy.” Individuals seeking to avoid mobilization often change their addresses and prefer receiving payment in cash to stay undetected.
We are working at the limit,” said the HR director of a large steel mill, highlighting the challenges faced by his company due to workforce shortages. The Financial Times reported on Sunday that Ukrainian MPs plan to address this issue by revising the system for draft exemptions.
One proposal put forth by Natalukha, who also chairs the Economic Development Committee, would allow businesses to shield up to 50% of their employees from mobilization by paying a fixed fee of about $490 per month. Another bill would safeguard anyone with a wage above a threshold of $890, as they are presumably more valuable to the war effort in terms of economic contribution than they would be on the battlefield.
Natalukha has told the Financial Times that his proposal could exempt around 895,000 men from military service and generate approximately $4.9 billion for Kiev’s war funds. He had previously argued in Ukrainian media that his bill is preferable to the alternative because it does not perpetuate the notion that only impoverished individuals without the means to bribe their way out of the draft are compelled to fight. According to Natalukha, Ukrainians collectively spend between $700 million and $2 billion annually on fraudulent means of avoiding mobilization.
Under the current system, the government can determine which agencies and businesses are vital for Ukraine and offer them partial or complete immunity from mobilization. For instance, a recent update granted waivers to 100% of employees at NGOs that receive foreign grants and are engaged in political activities.
Moscow views the conflict as a US-driven proxy war, where Ukrainians serve as “cannon fodder” and are coerced into fighting by their Western-dependent government.