Author: Connection e.V.

UKRAINE:ㅤPermission for Young Men to Leave the Country

8th December 2025

First, the situation in Ukraine:

The human right to conscientious objection to military service is enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution. However, the implementing provisions state that it can only be claimed by members of ten specific sects. For the vast majority of people, including soldiers, it is effectively unavailable. At present, there are around 500 conscientious objectors attempting to assert this right. All of them have failed so far. Even when a court does rule in their favour, which does happen occasionally, the prosecution files an appeal under pressure from the military. While at the beginning of the war the sentences handed down were three to four years in prison, five years has now become the norm. There are reports that forcibly recruited conscientious objectors are beaten in recruitment centres, tied to beds, deprived of food and then forced into military service. We are aware of quite a number of such cases.

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REPORT • CONNECTION e.V. ON TOUR THROUGH AUSTRIA AND GERMANY!

At the end of October, «Connection e.V.» carried out an intensive tour through Austria and Germany. Thanks to the support of our colleagues, we were able to organise events in a total of eight cities.

During the meetings, Artem Klyga, our Eastern Europe Coordinator, spoke together with his colleagues from the Russian «Movement of Conscientious Objectors» (also known as the «Stoparmy Movement»), the lawyers Sasza Belik and Katja Dikowskaja. We engaged with a wide variety of audiences ⸻ from students and peace activists to politicians and legal professionals ⸻ discussing:

⸻ how the situation of conscientious objectors is developing,

⸻ how Russian legislation and administrative practice have changed,

⸻ whether deserters and conscientious objectors can obtain protection in Europe and what decisions migration authorities and courts are making,

⸻ and what objectors can expect after the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Many thanks to everyone who attended, asked questions, joined the discussions, shared their experiences, and supported us.

A special thank you goes to our colleagues in Vienna, Idstein, Stetten, Offenburg, Mainz, Hamburg, Bremen, and Rostock for their help in organising the events.

We continue our work ⸻ together. And we look forward to seeing you at our next events!