Approximately 800,000 Ukrainian men have gone into hiding to avoid military mobilization, according to Dmitry Natalukha, a senior MP in Kiev, as reported by the Financial Times. Natalukha stressed the necessity of creating economic-driven exemptions from the draft.

Earlier this year, Kiev introduced a strict new conscription system aimed at preventing draft evasion through the threat of severe punishment. However, this system has inadvertently disadvantaged legally operating businesses in Ukraine compared to those in the shadow economy, according to the Financial Times. Many draft evaders have changed their addresses and prefer to be paid in cash to stay off the radar.

"We are working at the limit," stated the HR director of a large steel mill, describing the workforce shortages his company faces. According to the FT, Ukrainian MPs are now planning to address this issue by overhauling the draft exemption system.

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One proposal by Natalukha, chair of the Economic Development Committee, would allow businesses to exempt up to 50% of their employees from mobilization by paying a fixed fee of about $490 per month. Another competing bill would protect anyone earning over $890 per month, arguing that such individuals contribute more to the economy than they would on the battlefield.

Natalukha believes his proposal could prevent about 895,000 men from being conscripted and generate approximately $4.9 billion for Ukraine’s war effort. He has argued in Ukrainian media that his bill is fairer, as it avoids the perception that only the poor, who cannot afford to bribe their way out of the draft, are sent to fight. Ukrainians are estimated to spend between $700 million and $2 billion annually on fraudulent means to avoid mobilization.

Currently, the government decides which agencies and businesses are essential and grants them partial or full immunity from mobilization. For example, a recent update granted waivers to all employees of NGOs that receive foreign grants and are engaged in political activities.

Meanwhile, Moscow maintains that the conflict as a US-driven proxy war, with Ukrainians being forced to fight by their Western-dependent government.

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