This “decree” is fake and does not appear on the official website of the President of Ukraine. The “document” contains glaring formatting and structural inconsistencies and attributes powers to the head of state that he does not possess: exemption from conscription on the basis of kinship is not provided for by Ukrainian law. Meanwhile, an authentic decree numbered №273/2025 does exist, but it concerns the awarding of the title Hero of Ukraine and has nothing to do with military recruitment – its content has been completely falsified to create a manipulative narrative.
Some internet users and pro-Russian Telegram channels are circulating a photo of an alleged “decree” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, purportedly granting an indefinite deferment from military service to relatives of soldiers of the 1st Division of the Ukrainian National Army (UNA/SS Galicia Division). The image claims that the “decree” was issued on 6 May 2025, under the number №273/2025.
In reality, this information is false. The “decree” displayed is a fake.
Firstly, Presidential Decree No. 273/2025 does exist, but it was signed on 5 May 2025 and its content is completely different – it concerns the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star to Junior Lieutenant Vladyslav Yevhenovych Datskyi. The number and date of the decree were deliberately used by the forgers to make the fake document appear credible.
The forgery is also revealed by the document’s format. The fake “decree” lacks a QR code, security features, standard fonts, and its structure does not match the official documents published on the website president.gov.ua. There is no decree with the content quoted by the propagandists in any official source.
In addition, the fake text refers to Article 17 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which has nothing to do with military service. This article affirms that the protection of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability is the responsibility of the entire nation, and that the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot be used to restrict the rights and freedoms of citizens. It does not regulate the right to defer military service.
In fact, the President of Ukraine cannot issue such a decree, as it contradicts current legislation. According to Article 65 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the defence of the homeland, independence and territorial integrity is the duty of all Ukrainian citizens. Military service is performed in accordance with the law.
The Law of Ukraine “On Military Duty and Military Service” defines who is subject to military service, the conditions of service and the grounds for deferment and exemption. The latest amendments to this law, adopted in January 2025, do not contain any provisions regarding the descendants of the SS Galicia Division or other formations from the Second World War.
The forged decree also mentions the First Ukrainian Division of the Ukrainian National Army (UNA). While it is true that remnants of the SS Galicia Division were incorporated into the newly formed UNA in April 1945, this formation only existed for a few weeks – from 25 April to 8 May 1945 – and did not actually participate in combat as an independent unit. The official position of the Ukrainian state regarding the SS Galicia Division remains cautious and neutral. Ukraine condemns both Nazi and Communist totalitarian ideologies, and the assessment of the division’s activities is a matter for historians and public debate, not government policy.
The purpose of spreading such falsehoods is to discredit Ukraine’s authorities, sow discord in Ukrainian society, and provoke outrage among citizens, especially those who have been mobilized and their families. Propaganda deliberately exploits sensitive historical issues and distorted facts in order to undermine trust in state institutions and demoralise Ukrainian society in times of war.We have previously debunked similar fakes in Fake: Zelensky Buys House Owned by German Nazi Party for 14 Million Euros and Fake: In Kyiv, People Welcomed Blogger Who Walked The Streets Dressed as Hitler.
