Ukraine has drafted a new bill on alternative service under martial law

The Ukrainian government has drafted a new bill on alternative service, intended to replace the outdated regulations from 1991. According to Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Employment Service, the new initiative aims to create a mechanism for citizens who cannot bear arms due to religious beliefs but are willing to fulfill their duty to the state in wartime. This was reported by Glavkom.

The current legislation was designed for peacetime and conscription, which is not currently in effect. Viktor Yelensky emphasized that the law will primarily affect groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses. The proposed bill introduces strict measures to verify the sincerity and depth of applicants’ religious beliefs in order to prevent abuse of the right to refuse military service.

According to the draft, the verification procedure will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers, and special commissions may include psychologists, religious scholars, administrators, and representatives of churches. The head of the State Employment Service also noted that alternative service may last longer than regular military service. For example, after martial law ends, citizens may be called upon to participate in the country’s reconstruction for a strictly defined period.

The bill also allows for the possibility of transferring from military service to alternative service on an individual basis, although this issue requires careful consideration.

As a reminder, Viktor Yelensky previously officially stated that his agency does not grant exemptions from mobilization for clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).