Three Days and a Fine: In Ukraine, Rules for Serving Draft Notices by Mail Tightened.

Changes in Postal Service Provision Rules

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has made significant changes to the Postal Service Provision Rules, which will significantly impact the process of receiving draft notices from territorial recruitment centers (TRCs). This was reported by the Judicial-Legal Newspaper.

According to the government’s resolution No. 1147 dated October 8, 2024, the storage period for draft notices from TRCs is now equated to court summonses, significantly reducing the Time for their receipt.

Now men have only three working days to pick up the registered letter with a draft notice from the TRC from the mail. If the addressee does not appear for the letter within this period, they face a significant fine ranging from 17 to 25.5 thousand hryvnias. This new measure aims to speed up the notification process for those liable for military service and enhance the efficiency of the draft system.

The new rules stipulate that registered letters marked "TRC Notice" must be delivered exclusively to the addressee personally. If the recipient is absent at the given address, the postal worker is required to take additional measures to inform the addressee. This may include a phone call to the available number or a notice about the letter arrival in the mailbox.

If after three working days the addressee still does not appear to receive the letter, the postal worker marks it "addressee absent at the specified address." This mark is certified by the worker’s signature and the postal device imprint. The following working day, the letter is returned to the sender, i.e., the TRC.

It is important to note that such a return of the letter will be considered "proper notice." This means that thereafter, the TRC has the right to issue a decision on the fine. A similar situation occurs if the addressee refuses to sign to confirm the refusal to accept the letter. In this case, the postal worker marks it "Addressee refused" and also returns the letter to the sender no later than the next working day.

According to the Draft Order, proper confirmation of notification to a reservist or conscript about a call to the TRC when sending a draft notice by postal service is considered the day the postal item is received by the individual, the day the refusal note to receive the item is made, or the note of absence of the person at the specified address.

These changes are part of a large-scale government initiative to optimize the draft system. By the end of the current year, the Cabinet of Ministers plans to send 900 thousand draft notices, emphasizing the seriousness of the government's intentions regarding mobilization.