The U.S. government has warned that Ukrainian-U.S. dual nationals of draft age may remain in the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law in February 2022 in response to the ongoing Russian aggression.
The martial law imposed in Ukraine means that dual Ukrainian-U.S. nationals aged between 18 and 60 “may be unable to leave the country,” the U.S. Embassy in Kiev said in a statement. statement on tuesday.
“Ukrainian law does not recognize dual citizenship,” the US embassy added, “so dual US-Ukrainian citizens will be treated solely as Ukrainian citizens in Ukraine and will be subject to the rights and obligations of Ukrainian citizens.”
Since martial law was imposed in Ukraine, Extension Several times, most recently in May when the Ukrainian parliament report Martial law will be extended until August 2024.
President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet during an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, February 20, 2023. (Official White House photo by Adam Schultz)
Ukraine’s Mobilization Law, which came into force in May to make it easier for the government to identify those eligible for conscription, removes, as of June 1, the “abroad residence exception” that had allowed dual nationals to leave the country.
The Mobilisation Law was passed in April following the lowering of the conscription age for men from 27 to 25.
“Due to martial law in Ukraine, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country,” the US embassy statement added. “Previously, this group of dual US-Ukrainian nationals were able to enter Ukraine and then leave if they removed their Ukrainian residency registration and registered in the US. According to our information, this exception was revoked as of June 1.”
The US embassy in Kiev added that it was “limited” in what it could do to “influence Ukrainian law”.
U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizens currently in Ukraine are advised to “shelter in place and follow all local orders.”
“If not currently in Ukraine, U.S. citizen males between the ages of 18 and 60 who are Ukrainian nationals or claim Ukrainian nationality and do not wish to remain in Ukraine indefinitely are strongly encouraged to avoid any travel to Ukraine.”
Spokesperson for the National Guard of Ukraine explanation To Politico He said the border guards “treat dual Ukrainians as Ukrainians” and that they still “have to defend the country against Russian aggression.”
President Zelenskyy has also signed other laws to expand the size of the military, including one allowing prisoners to serve in the Ukrainian army and another imposing fines on people who try to dodge the draft.
