In a bid to bolster its military ranks, Ukraine has enacted contentious measures that restrict consular services for male citizens living abroad. The policy, aimed at compelling men of military age to return home for service, has sparked debate over its effectiveness and legality.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, unveiled the new regulations which deny full consular services to male citizens aged 18 to 60 residing outside Ukraine, especially those who haven't registered with the military. Kuleba emphasized that residing abroad doesn't absolve citizens of their national duties and stressed the need for equitable treatment of conscripts both domestically and internationally.

Under the new rules, Ukrainian men living abroad are mandated to register with the military. However, specifics on how this process will unfold in foreign countries remain unclear, prompting concerns among legal experts such as Kyiv-based lawyer Hanna Ishchenko. Ishchenko highlighted the potential legal challenges against these measures, questioning their proportionality and conformity with principles of equality before the law.

Critics, including Oleksandr Pavlichenko from the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, have decried the policy as discriminatory and fear its repercussions, suggesting affected individuals may seek alternative citizenship to evade the constraints. Pavlichenko also anticipates legal challenges based on international human rights standards, underscoring the discord between the government's measures and the principle of individual rights.

The controversial move comes amidst Ukraine's efforts to bolster its defense capabilities, with the law set to take effect on May 18th. As debates intensify, the Ukrainian government faces mounting scrutiny over the perceived fairness and legitimacy of its conscription policies targeting expatriate male citizens.