[47821] Proposals to Toughen Penalties for Draft Evasion in Ukraine

Proposal to Toughen Measures Against Draft Evaders in Ukraine

Kostiantyn Nemychev, founder of the KRAKEN unit, proposed today, May 3, 2026, to significantly toughen measures against citizens who ignore draft orders for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to reports on the Telegram channels Україна Online: Новини | Політика and Україна⚡️Новини⚡️Війна, Nemychev argues that drastic steps must be taken to increase compliance with recruitment.

According to Nemychev, as quoted by Україна Online, "If a person ignores the summons, they should be declared wanted and their property confiscated." Nemychev suggests that once evaders are located by the police, they should be given a clear ultimatum: "Either sign a contract with an assault battalion, or dig trenches and build fortifications on the border with Russia and Belarus."

These proposals reflect the position of military figures associated with the direct war effort, who advocate for a "firm hand" policy toward evaders. Both channels that reported on the subject, which are aligned with a pro-government and pro-Ukrainian military line, present Nemychev's words without reservation as part of the growing public discourse on the need for manpower at the front.

As of now, it is unclear whether these proposals are on the official legislative agenda, but they are indicative of the growing frustration among field units regarding the scale of draft evasion in the country.