Ukrainian General Mobilization: What Does the ‘Wanted’ Status Mean and How to Legally Remove It
Amid ongoing military aggression and the declaration of martial law in Ukraine, questions surrounding conscription and military registration have become increasingly relevant.
One of the tools used to track servicemen is the mobile application «Reserve+», designed for quick updates of military records.
However, users sometimes encounter situations where their profile displays a «Wanted» status, raising numerous questions about its meaning and how to clear it.Legal experts and military lawyers explain that the «Wanted» status marked in red usually indicates violations of military registration rules.
Such violations could include failing to appear for a summons or delaying updating necessary data in the «Obereg» registry.
Mikhail Lobunko, a military attorney at «Prikhodko & Partners», notes that removing this status requires specific actions.
Nonetheless, avoiding mobilization without lawful reasons, such as proper deferments, remains challenging.The process for removing oneself from the wanted list can be pursued through two main methods.
The first involves verifying the legitimacy of the grounds for inclusion.
The serviceman or his lawyer can contact the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRSSC) to clarify reasons for the listing.
If the inclusion was accidental, for example, due to an incorrect address for the summons, the TRSSC can close the case, and relevant changes will be made in the Obereg registry, after which the wanted status will automatically disappear.The second method involves paying an administrative fine for violating military registration rules, as stipulated by Articles 210 and 210-1 of the Ukrainian Code of Administrative Offenses (UCAO).
From early 2024, the «Reserve+» app introduced a new feature allowing online fine payments, significantly simplifying the process.
Once the fine is paid, the TRSSC in coordination with the National Police will remove the individual from the wanted list, with a notification sent via the app.If a serviceman believes that the fine was unjustly imposed, they can challenge it in court.
A court ruling in their favor will automatically lift the «Wanted» status.In June 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense launched a beta test of a new feature in «Reserve+» enabling servicemen to pay fines remotely for violations in military registration, with the possibility to reduce the amount by up to 50%.
This innovation aims to make the process of legally clearing the «Wanted» status easier and more transparent.