MP Horbenko: Tightening conscription exemption rules could increase the number of draft dodgers by 20%

Tighter control may have the opposite effect

MP Horbenko from the Servant of the People party stated that tightening requirements for employee conscription exemptions will not contribute to an increase in the number of mobilised individuals. On the contrary, he said, such measures risk increasing the number of people evading military service.

The politician explained that conducting audits of enterprises and uncovering abuses regarding conscription exemptions could lead to the dismissal of employees. These individuals would then evade service, while the state loses tax revenues. Meanwhile, the number of people actually visiting Territorial Centres for Recruitment and Social Support (TCC) does not increase.

Forecasts on the number of draft dodgers

Horbenko emphasised that without changing the approach to liability for evading service and unauthorised absence from a unit (UAW), the results will be minimal.

«Гаразд, ми проводимо аудит цих підприємств, виявляємо зловживання, директори звільняють цих людей, а потім ці люди ухиляються від служби. Тобто було плюс-мінус 200–300 тисяч призовників і десь 1,3–1,5 мільйона ухилянтів, і їх просто стане більше на 20%. Який результат? В економіці за податками — мінус. До ТЦК більше людей не дійшло» (All right, we audit these enterprises, uncover abuses, directors dismiss these people, and then these people evade service. So there were plus or minus 200–300 thousand conscripts and somewhere 1.3–1.5 million draft dodgers, and they will simply increase by 20%. What is the result? In the economy in terms of taxes — minus. More people have not reached the TCC), — stated Horbenko.

How many servicemen will actually arrive

According to the MP's estimate, if the liability mechanisms are not reviewed, only a small fraction of those who lose their conscription exemption status will join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

«Якщо ми не змінимо підхід до відповідальності ухилянтів і СЗЧ, то до лав ЗСУ потраплять максимум 5–10% тих, кого позбавлять бронювання» (If we do not change the approach to the liability of draft dodgers and those who have unauthorisedly left their units, then at most 5–10% of those who are deprived of conscription exemption will join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine), — emphasised Horbenko.