Ukraine has introduced fines for illegally wearing military uniforms, which is a serious violation.
The law, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in June 2019, regulates administrative and criminal liability for violations related to the use of military uniforms, state awards, as well as damage to monuments and burial places of defenders of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian law, only certain categories of persons may wear a military uniform: servicemen, cadets, reservists, those subject to military service during the assembly, high school students, and persons discharged to the reserve or retired with the right to wear a uniform. All others who illegally wear a military uniform are subject to administrative sanctions.
Fines for illegally wearing a uniform range from 2,550 to 6,800 hryvnias, depending on the violation. For the first violation, a warning or a fine of 2,550 to 3,400 hryvnias with confiscation of the uniform is provided. If a person violates the law again within a year, the fine increases to 3,400 to 6,800 hryvnias, and 30 to 40 hours of community service may also be assigned.
The police have the right to check the documents of persons wearing military uniforms and draw up reports of violations. At the same time, illegal circulation of state awards is also punishable by fines: for the purchase, sale or exchange of awards, a fine of 850 to 1,700 UAH is provided, and for illegal manufacture or sale - from 1,700 to 3,400 UAH.
Special attention is paid to the preservation of cultural heritage and the authority of state awards. The law provides for criminal liability for desecration of monuments and burial places of defenders of Ukraine. Such actions are punishable by restriction of liberty for a term of 3 to 5 years or imprisonment for the same term in case of serious violations.
