Mobilization became a key decision of the state to protect Ukraine from the onset of a full-scale Russian invasion. At the same time, the number of criminal proceedings for evasion of military service, provided for in Article 336 of the Criminal Code, has sharply increased. From the first convictions in 2014 to record figures in 2023, judicial practice demonstrates significant changes.
2014–2015: the article appeared and the first peak
Article 336 of the Criminal Code was introduced in 2014 after the start of the war in the east and the announcement of partial mobilization. The first sentence was handed down that same year. The biggest surge during this period was in 2015, when courts passed 1,596 sentences.
2016–2021: decline in activity
After that, the number of cases decreased sharply. In 2021, there were only 8 convictions - the fewest since the article appeared.
2022: the beginning of a great war
The first year of the full-scale invasion was a turning point. While in 2021 there were only 2 decisions, in 2022 the courts issued 186 verdicts, which is 93 times more. There were 444 cases pending.
2023: new record
2023 became a peak year for Ukrainian judicial practice:
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1,257 new cases were opened;
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over 1,000 verdicts have been passed;
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60 people received actual imprisonment;
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A total of 2,021 cases were reviewed;
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The number of convicts reached 930.
This year brought together a third of all convictions under Article 336 from 2014 — 3,746.
2024: business growth and first changes
In 2024, 2,694 cases were filed with the courts. 618 people were convicted, which is less than in 2023. At the same time, the number of closed proceedings increased: 138 versus 19 in 2022.
In Kyiv, 7 convictions were handed down last year, with 19 cases still pending. Police completed 26 investigations and reported 51 individuals to the police.
2025: Parole
As of September 2025, over 10,100 convicts were released on parole under Article 81¹ of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for mobilization into the army.
Typically, courts impose sentences of 3 to 4 years in prison. Actual serving remains typical, as the application of Article 75 of the Criminal Code (probationary release) is rarely used.
At the same time, there are ongoing discussions in the courts regarding the principle of proportionality. In case No. 629/2438/23, a Supreme Court judge noted that referring to war as an aggravating circumstance is unnecessary, as it is already included in the very composition of the crime.
In addition to criminal liability, the Code of Administrative Offenses (Article 210-1, Part 2) provides for a fine for draft evasion: from 1,000 to 1,500 tax-free minimums, i.e. from 17,000 to 55,500 hryvnias.
The judicial practice of draft evaders in Ukraine has gone from the first convictions in 2014 to a record workload in 2023 and more flexible decisions in 2025. Today, courts combine strict terms with the possibility of parole for those convicted for mobilization. The balance between punishment and the needs of the army remains a key challenge in the legal system of a warring country.
