Poland has announced its support for Ukraine in repatriating its military-aged men following recent amendments to Ukrainian passport and consular laws, according to Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The changes, which were introduced by Ukraine’s government, include a prohibition on delivering identification documents and passports to Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 residing overseas.
This came into effect soon after Ukraine ceased accepting new applications for consular support from military-aged men abroad under a newly enacted mobilization law.
Under the new regulations, Ukrainian embassies and consulates will no longer process new requests for consular services from men in this age group, except for identity card registrations needed for returning to Ukraine.
These men must now obtain their passports directly from migration service offices within Ukraine as the service of mailing passports abroad has been discontinued.
Kosiniak-Kamysz, in an interview with Polsat News, mentioned that many Poles are frustrated seeing young Ukrainian men leisurely spending time in hotels and cafes while Poland exerts significant efforts to support Ukraine. He noted that Poland’s form of assistance would depend on decisions made by Ukraine.
Furthermore, the Polish official highlighted that Warsaw had previously proposed to assist in identifying Ukrainian refugees in Poland who are obligated to fulfil military duties.
Poland is currently home to about 1 million Ukrainian refugees, the largest number in any country, fleeing from the intense conflict initiated by Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba explained on the social platform X that the new measures aim to “restore fair attitudes toward men of conscription age both in Ukraine and abroad.”
He criticized those who left Ukraine during the war, suggesting they showed indifference to their country’s plight and still expected state services.
The BBC reported in November 2023 that approximately 650,000 military-age Ukrainian men had left for the EU since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Despite martial law restrictions that typically prohibit men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country during wartime, many have managed to leave.
This month, Ukraine finalized a contentious mobilization bill after extensive debates and revisions.
This legislation is part of the government’s urgent efforts to address a severe manpower shortage in 2024 as the war continues.
