In brief
The court overturned a man's release from criminal liability, saying an admission of guilt and a later mobilisation deferment did not themselves establish sincere remorse.
Ukraine's Supreme Court has overturned two lower-court decisions releasing a man accused of evading mobilisation from criminal liability under his colleagues' supervision, UNIAN reported on October 21. The October 1, 2026 ruling in case No. 381/1983/24 ordered a fresh hearing in the court of first instance.
According to UNIAN, the man failed to report to a military recruitment centre after receiving a summons in December 2023. His indictment reached court in April 2024. He underwent a military medical examination that November and obtained a mobilisation deferment through an employment reservation in February 2025. A court released him from criminal liability in April 2025, and the Kyiv Court of Appeal upheld that decision on December 24.
The Supreme Court said release under Article 47 of Ukraine's Criminal Code required sincere remorse demonstrated through concrete actions. An admission of guilt, a medical examination, an employment reservation and a request from colleagues were insufficient by themselves. The lower courts also failed to explain how the workplace collective would exercise effective supervision, UNIAN reported.
The ruling did not make a final determination of guilt or rule out release from criminal liability following the new hearing.