Lithuania to consult EU on returning Ukrainian draft-age men

The New Voice of Ukraine
·2 min read
Ingrida Šimonytė
Ingrida Šimonytė

Vilnius may facilitate the return of draft-age men to Ukraine, but the issue requires consultations at the level of the European Union, Lithuanian TV3 reported on April 29, citing the country's Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

According to Šimonytė, Lithuania could look for ways to check military service obligations and possible exemptions while considering the temporary residence permits extension for Ukrainian men.

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Šimonytė noted that any decision would involve not only coordination with Ukrainian authorities but also with the EU, as the bloc currently extends what she described as "so-called temporary protection" to Ukrainians. "This protection is universal with very broad guarantees, so it is not a matter of 'one or two countries,'" she added.

This initiative follows a statement by Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas on April 25, discussing Vilnius' efforts to support Kyiv in repatriating military-age males.

Temporary suspension of consular services for Ukrainian men

On April 22, the newspaper ZN.UA reported that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had ordered all diplomatic missions to temporarily suspend services for men of military age, except for processing documents for their return to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Dmytro Kuleba confirmed this information on April 23. Later, the ministry issued a statement on the provision of consular services to men of military age, calling it a temporary step.

“After the new mobilization law comes into force on May 18, the process of accepting and considering applications for consular action will continue, taking into account new requirements arising from the provisions of the law,” the ministry wrote.

Furthermore, on April 24, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Ukraine’s parliament announced plans to summon Foreign Ministry officials to discuss the legal foundation for these service restrictions.

On April 26, Polish news outlet Ukrayina.pl reported that Warsaw would continue to provide temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in the country, including men without passports.

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