The Politico-branded clip is a fabrication. No such report exists, and no legislation of this kind is under consideration in Ukraine.
The video, widely circulated in pro-Russian online spaces, purports to cite a draft bill that would classify aiding draft dodgers — from offering shelter or food to relaying family messages — as treason. It even includes a fabricated quote from human rights activist Lela Metreveli, casting the alleged measure as a sign of “the Ukrainian government’s desperation.”
The video — and every claim in it — is fabricated. Politico never published such a report; the clip was stitched together from stock footage by pro-Russian propagandists. The text itself betrays the forgery: a native English speaker would refer to “conscription” or “the draft,” not “mobilization,” suggesting the script was translated from Russian using online tools. The supposed quote from human rights activist Lela Metreveli is also bogus. Metreveli works with the Moldovan organization Human Rights Embassy, which focuses on domestic issues and avoids commenting on foreign governments. Ukraine appears on its website only in reference to supporting vulnerable refugee groups in Moldova. A review of bills submitted to the Verkhovna Rada in the past three weeks found no proposals resembling the alleged measure. Ukrainian media carry no mention of it either — conclusive evidence that the story is a complete fabrication.
Ukrainian law does criminalize interference with the work of Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR and SS). Under Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code — “Obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations” — acts such as threats, psychological pressure, use of force, or damage to military transport carry prison terms of five to eight years. But the statute does not cover what propagandists describe as “helping draft dodgers.” Providing housing, food, or personal assistance to someone avoiding service falls outside the legal definition, underscoring the fabricated nature of the claim.
Ukraine’s mobilization drive has long been a fixture in Russian disinformation campaigns. Recent fact-checks have dismantled similar narratives — including fabricated claims that Territorial Centers of Recruitment (TCR) staff sit on university examination boards, and that the Zaporizhzhia Regional TCR bankrolls “elite” air travel for its employees.
