Explaining complex things in simple words: Package of laws on military service, bringing aggressor to justice, military assistance to Ukraine

PACKAGE OF LAWS ON MILITARY SERVICE

On April 2, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the laws previously adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on military duty and military service, the introduction of an account of a person subject to conscription, and on ensuring the rights of servicepeople and police officers to social protection.

▪ The adopted laws were agreed upon with the Ministry of Defence and meet the current needs of repelling Russian aggression against Ukraine.

▪ The age limit for registered conscripts is reduced from 27 to 25 years.

▪ The creation of a unified electronic register of persons subject to conscription normalizes the accounting and use of mobilization resources. The account of the person subject to military service will provide an opportunity to update data without visiting the military conscription office.

▪ The “partially fit” category is canceled. Persons who have been recognized as such are required to undergo a second medical examination within 9 months and will be classified as “fit” or “unfit.”

▪ Social protection of servicepeople is being enhanced; mechanisms for ensuring the rights to medical care, leaves, pensions, as well as the rights of police officers to one-time cash assistance in case of death, determination of disability are being improved. 

BRINGING THE AGGRESSOR TO JUSTICE

On April 2, 44 states signed a political declaration during the Restoring Justice for Ukraine Conference in The Hague.

▪ The signatories of the declaration expressed their readiness to work together to create a Special Tribunal to bring Russia to justice for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

▪ The countries supported the creation in 2023 of the International Centre for Prosecution of the Crime of aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) under Eurojust.

▪ The signatory countries condemn Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine as a flagrant violation of international law and remind of the UN court's decision of March 16, 2022, which obliged the Russian Federation to cease hostilities.

▪ Conference participants also welcome the opening of the International Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which started accepting applications on April 2.

▪ Russian war criminals will inevitably be punished, and the Russian Federation will definitely pay for the damage caused to Ukraine. 

 MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE

According to media reports, NATO is working to prepare a USD 100 billion military assistance package for Ukraine.

▪ Ukraine is in dire need of a military aid package, but the issue has been stuck for months in the U.S. Congress.

▪ The proposal is to create a fund for Ukraine, in which NATO member countries will make contributions totaling USD 100 billion over 5 years.

▪ The Alliance could also take over the operational responsibilities of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

▪ According to the plan, this option will act as insurance against unforeseen circumstances in connection with the U.S. presidential election.

▪ The NATO initiative is extremely relevant for supporting Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security