• Destinations

Ukraine Travel Insurance Requirements

Last updated: 03/07/2024

All foreign visitors traveling to Ukraine, regardless of their country of citizenship, must have a travel insurance policy issued by an insurance company registered in Ukraine. This policy must include coverage of at least $10,000 for the costs related to treating Covid-19 and must be valid for the entirety of their stay in Ukraine.

Squaremouth’s Ukraine Travel Insurance Recommendations

Squaremouth recommends travelers visiting Ukraine purchase a travel insurance policy with at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage, and at least $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.

The Emergency Medical benefit can reimburse the costs of treating an illness during a trip, such as the costs associated with Covid-19, including physician services, ambulance fees, and hospital fees, among others.

The Medical Evacuation benefit can cover the cost of an evacuation to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency.

Along with these medical benefits, for travelers who are concerned about losing their prepaid trip expenses if they need to cancel their trip to Ukraine, Squaremouth recommends insuring these costs through the Trip Cancellation benefit. This benefit can reimburse 100% of a traveler’s prepaid and non-refundable trip costs if they need to cancel for a covered reason, such as not being able to travel because they are sick with Covid-19 or another illness.

Click here to begin your search for Ukraine Travel Insurance.

Ukraine Travel Insurance Trends and Data

Ukraine is currently under a Level 4 travel advisory, warning against travel to the country due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Destination Rank: 113

Percentage of Squaremouth Sales: 0.04%

Average Premium: $121.93

Average Trip Cost: $1,273.55

Squaremouth Analytics compares thousands of travel insurance policies purchased pre- and post-pandemic to identify changes and trends in the travel insurance industry.

Ukraine Articles and Press Releases

  • Mandatory Travel Insurance Isn’t Always Enough, says Squaremouth

Helpful Resources

  • Visit Ukraine

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Squaremouth's topic experts are on hand to answer your questions. Contact a member of our team for media inquiries about Squaremouth Analytics or to schedule an interview.

Steven Benna, Lead Data Analyst: [email protected]

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Rules of entering Ukraine 2021

Travel to Ukraine

  • usukraine.org
  • bioukraine.org

Travel to Ukraine

Coronavirus Information

Updated on September 23 (source: https://covid19.rnbo.gov.ua/)  

Cases: 2,730,425 +7866 / Active cases: 77,168 +5438 / Recovered: 2,237,973 +2305 / Deaths: 55,284+123

visit ukraine insurance

ENTERING UKRAINE 

NEW RULES STARTING AUG 18, 2021

All foreign visitors to Ukraine over 18 must have:

  • a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the country; OR
  • a negative antigen test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the country; OR
  • at least one dose of a WHO-approved vaccine (as of June 7: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Sinopharm, Sinovac)
  • health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment in Ukraine

Unvaccinated foreign visitors must install the Vdoma mobile app and self-isolate for 7 days starting 72 hours after entering the country. If you have a negative PCR or rapid antigen test within 72 hours of entering the country you do not have to self-isolate.

All citizens of Ukraine over 18 who:

  • have full of partial vaccination can enter the country without installing the Vdoma app or self-isolating.
  • are not vaccinated must install the Vdoma mobile app and self-isolate for 7 days starting 72 hours after entering the country. If you have a negative PCR or rapid antigen test within 72 hours of entering the country you do not have to self-isolate.

Children under the age of 12 do not need a COVID-19 test certificate.

Children ages 12-18 should have a COVID-19 test certificate but do not have to self-isolate.

Travelers who spent more than 7 of the last 14 days in Russia or India must self-isolate for 14 days.  This duration cannot be shortened by taking a PCR or rapid antigen test.

**Go to visitukraine.today/ for more info

visit ukraine insurance

MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE

Foreigners coming to Ukraine must have health insurance that covers all COVID-19 related treatment and observation for the duration of their stay in Ukraine.

The policy must be issued by

  • an insurance company registered in Ukraine; or
  • a foreign insurance company with a representative office in Ukraine or a contractual relationship with a partner insurance company in Ukraine.

This requirement does not apply to:

  • foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Ukraine;
  • refugees and persons needing additional protection;
  • employees of diplomatic missions and consulates, representative offices of international missions and organizations accredited in Ukraine, members of their families;
  • military of NATO member states and Partnership for Peace member states participating in the training of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Health insurance can be purchased here

Dii vdoma

VDOMA (ACT AT HOME) MOBILE APP

Citizens of Ukraine who do not arrive with a negative COVID-19 test must self-isolate and install the Vdoma (at Home) mobile app.  Border guards check for the app. If you are unable to install the app, you must go to a designated facility for observation

Starting on August 4-5, unvaccinated Ukrainian citizens and foreign visitors must install the Vdoma mobile app and self-isolate for 7 days starting 72 hours after crossing the border if within that time they do not receive a negative PCR or rapid antigen test.

You can download the app on  App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/%D0%B2%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0/id1504695512 or Google Play : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ua.gov.diia.quarantine&hl=uk

You have 24 hours after installing the app to arrive at the destination where you plan to self-isolate. The app sends push notifications for selfies confirming your location – you have 20 minutes to do so. Local police are notified if the photo or geolocation do not match, if the app has been uninstalled, or the phone has been turned off.

The app is available in Ukrainian and English.

A Ukrainian SIM card is required to use the app. Contact your airline about purchasing a Ukrainian SIM card.

For questions about the Vdoma app contact the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine .

coronavirus

COVID-19 TESTING

If you take a COVID-19 PCR test at a certified laboratory in Ukraine and receive a negative result you do not have to continue medical observation / self-isolation.

The list of certified labs can be found on the website of the Center of Public Health (CPH) of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine .

In case of a negative result, the labs enters the information into an online platform which syncs with the Dii Vdoma app hourly. Users receive a message on the Dii Vdoma app that they can end self-isolation / observation .

The phone number provided when taking a COVID-19 test must match the number used to install the Dii Vdoma app.

The following is not recommended before taking the test:

24 hours – drinking alcohol 6 hours – using nasal drops or sprays 4 hours – eating, drinking, smoking, gargling, brushing your teeth, chewing gum, candies

plane

AIRPORTS OFFERING COVID-19 TESTING

HRK-logo

Kharkiv airport ( HRK )

  • Location: Ticket office #20, Terminal A ground floor
  • Price: starting at 1,200 UAH
  • Hours: 9 am – 11 pm daily
  • Payment: cash or card
  • Test reform form
  • Results in English and Ukrainian
  • Contacts: +38 (093) 737-77-56 /  testpcr.airport [@] gmail.com
  • More info – https://hrk.aero/en/flying-safely-with-kharkiv-airport/

KBP-logo

Kyiv Boryspil airport ( KBP )

  • Location: 2nd floor of Terminal D passenger (domestic flight departure area)
  • Samples for PCR tests are taken 24/7 by airport medical station personnel and processed by the following labs: Adonis , Medlab , Esculab ,   Universum Clinic , IMMD  
  • Results are issued in Ukrainian and English
  • Prices are set by each lab (range from 890 to 1400 UAH)
  • Rapid testing is also available and takes up to 20 minutes. Prices are set by each lab (range from 750 to 850 UAH)
  • Contacts: medical-duty-doctor2 [@] kbp.aero / +38 044-281-72-35 / +38 063-980-67-47
  • More info – https://kbp.aero/en/covid-19-general-information/
  • https://kbp.aero/en/covid-19-pcr-testing-boryspil-international-airport/

LWO-logo

Lviv airport ( LWO )

  • Performed by UNILAB
  • Price: 1,500 UAH
  • Results can be obtained in Ukrainian, Polish or English
  • Payment: online at https://www.unilab.com.ua/index.php/ua/covid-19/2-uncategorised/69-coronavirus
  • More info: https://www.lwo.aero/en/Covid-19

ODS-logo

Odesa airport ( ODS )

  • Performed at the airport first aid post by CSD Medical Laboratory 24/7
  • Price: 1800 UAH
  • Contacts: +380(67)815-6557
  • More info:  https://testcovid19.com.ua/odessa

Many airlines have resumed flying to Ukraine, and the number of flights and cities is increasing as summer approaches. Check with your carrier for travel restrictions and changes.

map

An adaptive quarantine is in effect until December 31, 2021.

Wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth is mandatory on public transportation and in public places. Effective November 21, the fine for not wearing a mask is 170 – 255 UAH (~US$5-$9). People should avoid crowds , stay 1.5 m (5 feet) apart, and wash their hands frequently. Everyone must carry ID .

visit ukraine insurance

Ukraine is divided into four epidemiological zones (red, orange, yellow, green) based on the COVID-19 situation. The colors reflect a set of quarantine restrictions .    

"Yellow" (first shot) and "Green" (full vaccination) COVID vaccination certificates are being issued.

As of September 23, 2021 all of Ukraine will be considered a YELLOW ZONE

GREEN zone (national):

  • Masks are required in public transport, indoor public premises, mass events
  • People should maintain a social distance of 1.5 meters

YELLOW zone (national):

  • Mass events: no more than 1 person / 4 sq. m.
  • Cinemas and other cultural facilities: no more than 50% seats filled
  • Gyms and fitness centers: no more than 1 person / 10 sq. m.
  • Schools may remain open if 80% of staff have yellow or green COVID certificates 
  • Mass events and public institutions (cinemas, theaters, museums, other cultural institutions, gyms, pools) may remain open if 80% of staff and 100% of visitors have yellow or green COVID certificates

ORANGE zone  (regional):

  • Same as yellow zone, but local authorities may introduce additional restrictions

RED zone (regional) - the following are NOT ALLOWED/CLOSED:

  • Dining facilities, except for takeaway and delivery
  • Malls and other entertainment facilities: cinemas, theaters, etc.
  • Schools, except for kindergartens and grades 1-4
  • Non-food markets and stores
  • Fitness centers, gyms, pools
  • Mass events, except for official sporting events and team competitions without spectators
  • Cultural institutions, except for historical and cultural preserves
  • Movie and video production
  • Schools may remain open if 100% of staff have green COVID certificates 
  • Mass events (including religious) and public institutions (cinemas, museums, theaters, other cultural institutions, entertainment facilities, malls, dining facilities, markets, gyms, pools) may remain open if 100% of staff, visitors and organizers have green COVID certificates 

VACCINE INFORMATION

Vaccinations as of September 19:

Previous day: 21,118 / Total: 6,291,910 / % of population: ~15%

Ukrainian Government COVID-19 Vaccination website - https://vaccination.covid19.gov.ua/

The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  U.S. citizens in Ukraine should follow local developments and guidelines.

What to do if you think you have coronavirus while in Ukraine – https://moz.gov.ua/koronavirus-2019-ncov

  • If you have signs of an acute respiratory infection (cough, fever, tiredness, etc.) – call your family doctor
  • If you or a family member in addition to those symptoms are experiencing trouble breathing, high fever, diarrhea, feeling faint – call the emergency medical dispatch service x103
  • The dispatcher will determine whether to send an ambulance
  • Air out your premises and put on a mask in preparation of the ambulance’s arrival
  • The ambulance workers will assess your condition and decide whether you should to be hospitalized and whether to send someone to administer a COVID-19 test

Ukrainian Ministry of Health COVID-19 24-hour hotline: 0-800-60-20-19

LEAVING UKRAINE

Country-specific entry rules for Ukrainians can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website – https://tripadvisor.mfa.gov.ua/?page_id=1973  and at https://visitukraine.today/departure

visit ukraine insurance

Requirements for visas and COVID-19 testing vary by country and change frequently. Check with local authorities before traveling.

Effective January 26, 2021, all aircraft passengers two years of age and older, departing from any foreign country to a destination in the United States, must provide:

  • pre-boarding proof of a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 test performed in the past 72 hours and  an attestation  to the veracity of the test, OR
  • written or electronic documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the preceding 90 days in the form of a positive viral test result taken within the 90 days preceding the flight and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official stating the passenger has been cleared for travel.

The order applies to all travelers including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and foreign officials traveling for official purposes with limited exceptions for airline personnel and U.S. military and law enforcement on orders.  For further details and frequently asked questions, please visit the  Centers of Disease Control website .

Air carriers will not board passengers who do not meet these requirements.  Accordingly, travelers to the United States should check with their air carrier or travel representative prior to departure.

Travelers to  Slovakia  from red-zone countries must register online before crossing the border - https://korona.gov.sk/ehranica/    Starting on July 5, border guards will be checking that EU citizens have a digital COVID card. Only Ukrainians with residence permits, their family members, and students are allowed entry to Slovakia. Ukrainians with residence permits in other EU countries are allowed to transit through Slovakia.

Starting July 16-31, Ukrainians traveling to Croatia must have a negativce COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entry, an express antigen test taken within 48 hours prior to entry, a certificate of full vaccination completed at least 14 days prior to entry, or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within 6 months + at least one dose of a vaccine, provided that the person was vaccinated within 210 days prior to crossing the border. The Croatian Border Guard recommends that all travelers register their intention to enter the country on the website of the Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs https://entercroatia.mup.hr/ More info here

Through July 31, 2021 citizens of Ukraine (under the page of 6) traveling to Turkey must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entry, an express test taken within 48 hours prior to entry, a certificate of full vaccination completed at least 14 days prior to entry, or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past 6 months. These documents must be in English. All visitors must also register online within 72 hours prior to entry (and have the generated document in paper or electronic format with them) and have health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment.

Entry of Ukrainian citizens to the Czech Republic is prohibited, with the exception of those who have a residence permit in the Czech Republic or a visa issued by the authorities of the Czech Republic. Citizens of Ukraine who have a residence permit in another EU country - an appropriate plastic card (ATTENTION! A long-term visa is not considered such a permit), are allowed to enter if there is confirmation of the purpose of the trip. Entry in exceptional humanitarian situations (carrying out planned medical examinations or operations, carrying out court decisions, participating in a court hearing, caring for a non-self-sufficient family member, caring for a child, etc.) is allowed if there are supporting documents issued by Czech authorities,

Montenegro - entry allowed without restrictions.

For more coronavirus-related travel information visit:

U.S. Embassy in Ukraine:

  • https://ua.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
  • U.S. Embassy Kyiv has temporarily limited routine American Citizen services. Check their website for updates .
  • Routine visa services remain suspended until further notice.

Ukrainian government links:

  • https://covid19.gov.ua/en
  • https://moz.gov.ua/koronavirus-2019-ncov
  • https://t.me/s/COVID19_Ukraine
  • https://tripadvisor.mfa.gov.ua/?page_id=1973
  • https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/392-2020-%D0%BF#Text

VISIT UKRAINE - Entry Requirements for Ukraine | Departures from Ukraine

  • https://visitukraine.today/ |   https://visitukraine.today/departure

European Union:

  • https://reopen.europa.eu/en

IATA Interactive Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Regulations Map

  • https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Covid Controls 

  • https://covidcontrols.co/
  • https://kbp.aero/en/
  • https://kbp.aero/en/covid-19/
  • https://iev.aero/en/
  • https://www.lwo.aero/en
  • https://hrk.aero/en/
  • https://odesa.aero/en/

Airlines –  visit our directory to see which airlines are currently flying to Ukraine

***This is an informational page only.  Check with local authorities and your airline before traveling***

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  • Passports, travel and living abroad
  • Travel abroad
  • Foreign travel advice

Before you travel check that:

  • your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
  • you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 103 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Healthcare facilities in Ukraine

FCDO has a list of healthcare providers in Ukraine . Due to the ongoing invasion, we cannot confirm that all these providers are operating.

State medical facilities in Ukraine are generally poor. Private clinics and hospitals offer a better standard of care, though these do not always meet western standards and practices. If you require emergency medical treatment, it is likely that you will be taken to a state hospital unless you can show that you have comprehensive medical insurance cover.

English is not widely spoken and you may face communication difficulties if you do not speak Ukrainian.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

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Update April 12, 2024

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Ukraine Travel Advisory

Travel advisory may 22, 2023, ukraine - level 4: do not travel.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.

The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.

There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.

U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] for assistance. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas . U.S. citizens may also seek consular services, including requests for repatriation loans, passports, and visa services, at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries .

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each province (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.

Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.

Although Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – to the extent possible given security conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:

  • Visit our website on Travel to High-Risk areas .
  • Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
  • Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
  • Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
  • Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
  • Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
  • Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first and how they should share the information.
  • Enroll your trip in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

If you are currently in Ukraine:

  • Read the Department’s country information page on Ukraine.
  • Familiarize yourself with information on what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
  • Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
  • Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
  • Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Notices related to your travel.
  • Get a COVID vaccine to facilitate your travel.
  • Understand the COVID testing and vaccine requirements for all countries that you will transit through to your destination.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Review the Country Security Report for Ukraine.
  • Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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Ukraine Is Denying Consular Services to Men Outside the Country

New guidance carries a clear message to men abroad who may be avoiding the draft: You don’t get the benefit of state services if you don’t join the fight.

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Two men, dressed in fatigues, with guns standing on a wide pathway.

By Maria Varenikova

Reported from Kyiv

Ukrainian officials have taken several steps in recent weeks to swell the ranks of an army depleted by more than two years of grueling combat. The government passed a new mobilization bill aimed at increasing troop numbers and has stepped up border patrols to catch draft dodgers.

Now, officials are targeting men who have already left the country. This week the government announced that Ukrainian embassies had suspended issuing new passports and providing other consular services for military-age men living abroad.

Men between the ages of 18 and 60 were prohibited from leaving the country after the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022, but some were abroad before the rule took effect and others have left illegally since then.

By suspending consular services, the government said, it was responding to demands for fairness in society.

The new rules will remain in place until a new mobilization law takes effect on May 18. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that it was still working out the details about what services would be provided after the broader mobilization law went into effect, but its message was clear: If you are healthy and can fight, come home and join the military.

“How it looks like now: A man of conscription age went abroad, showing his state that he does not care about its survival, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state,” Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in a statement. “It does not work this way. Our country is at war.”

Critics have said the move could end up sowing divisions between Ukrainians at home and those abroad while not having a real impact on the drive for more soldiers. There are about 860,000 Ukrainian men now living outside the country, in the European Union.

The drive to bring men back to Ukraine is part of a broader effort to enlist new soldiers urgently as Russia seeks to exploit its advantage in arms and numbers across the eastern front. In certain areas, Russians outnumber Ukrainians by more than seven to one, Gen. Yurii Sodol, the commander of forces in the east, told the Ukrainian news media last month.

As American officials pressed lawmakers in Washington to deliver more military aid for Ukraine, they also pressed the government in Kyiv to address problems with its draft.

James O’Brien, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, noted on a visit to Kyiv this week that the country’s mobilization efforts were every bit as critical to stabilizing the front and turning the tide of war as artillery.

“Ukraine needs to make sure it has the people necessary to fight,” he said at a news conference.

The lack of clarity about how the policy would be carried out added to the heated debate inside Ukraine about the measure.

Many soldiers on the front, including tens of thousands who have been fighting with little rest for more than two years, see the rule as a just and fair move.

“This decision is long overdue,” Alina Mykhailova, a military medic and widow of a commander killed in combat, wrote on Facebook, describing it as the restoration of some “small percentage” of justice for Ukrainian servicemen.

“You don’t like it? Give up your citizenship and go to hell,” she wrote, in comments that reflect growing anger among Ukrainian soldiers and military families at men who have avoided fighting.

However, Volodymyr Viatrovych, former head of Ukraine’s National Memory Institute, warned that the move could create resentment from Ukrainians living abroad.

“This decision will bring nothing but damage,” he wrote on Facebook, arguing that it would not force more people to join the army but only “weaken national unity.”

A majority of Ukrainians living abroad, he wrote, will not abandon their jobs, studies, wives and children “to take a one-way trip right now.”

There is particular concern about teenage boys whose parents took them abroad for their safety when the war broke out and who have since turned 18. Under the new law, they may have to return to Ukraine to get their passports, and then they may not be able to leave.

“There has to be some improvement, the creation of some possibility to get registered with the army at the consulate,” Tetyana Senenko, a Ukrainian living in Georgia, said on social media.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would provide further clarification on the procedure for obtaining consular services, to avoid leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men abroad in a state of limbo.

Serhiy Fursa, deputy director of the investment company Dragon Capital in Kyiv, said on Facebook that Ukraine should be more wary of alienating men who could be useful to the economy if not to the military: “Yes, these men are needed in Ukraine. And yes, they chose not to be in Ukraine during the war. Ukraine needs all its citizens. And not all citizens of Ukraine are heroes.”

Maria Varenikova covers Ukraine and its war with Russia. More about Maria Varenikova

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

Ukrainian officials have taken several steps to swell the ranks  of an army depleted by more than two years of grueling combat. The government passed a new mobilization bill aimed at increasing troop numbers and has stepped up border patrols to catch draft dodgers.

Ukrainian forces will soon be able to use a newly delivered, coveted long-range missile  system to more effectively target Russian forces  in occupied Crimea.

Chasiv Yar, a small Ukrainian town, has been under relentless attack by Russian forces. Controlling the town  would put them in striking distance of key Ukrainian operational and supply centers.

Patriotism or Survival: As the war drags on, communities that were steadfast  in their commitment to the war effort have been shaken by the unending violence on the front line.

Images From Year Three of the War: For all that time, photographers with The New York Times and other news organizations have chronicled the war , capturing a slice of how soldiers and civilians have experienced it. Some images will never leave them.

Nato’s Show of Force: About 90,000 NATO troops have been training in Europe for the Great Power war that most hope will never come : a clash between Russia and the West with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Resuming U.S. Military Aid: Weapons from the support package, considered “a lifeline” for Ukraine’s military , could be arriving on the battlefield within days . But experts say it could take weeks before there is a direct impact on the war . What would $60 billion buy ?

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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