Ukrainian women in EU may face military service document checks

European Union countries may request documents from Ukrainian women confirming whether they are subject to military service when granting them temporary protection, European Commission representative Markus Lammert said at a briefing in Brussels.

“The Council decision does not distinguish between men and women when applying provisions related to military or former military service,” he noted.

Lammert explained that checking documents and assessing each individual case fall within the competence of national authorities.

The EU Council decision extending temporary protection for Ukrainians, which took effect in early August, contains provisions related to the fulfilment of military obligations in Ukraine and allows authorities to request supporting documents.

To ensure the new rules are applied uniformly, the European Commission has already sent EU member states guidance addressing frequently asked questions. Updated operational guidelines are also expected to be published in the coming weeks.

By Jeyhun Aghazada