Ukraine’s government has introduced bill No. 13673, which would establish criminal liability for the illegal crossing of the border during martial law or a state of emergency. The document has been on the Verkhovna Rada’s agenda since February 2026, but it remains at the familiarization stage—relevant committees have yet to examine it in detail.
The bill would shift some violations from the administrative sphere into the criminal one. Illegal border crossing—or an attempt to leave the country—during martial law would carry a fine of 119,000 to 170,000 hryvnias (€2,333-€3,333) or a prison term of up to three years. A separate penalty is предусмотрено for conscripts, persons liable for military service and reservists who violate the permitted terms of stay abroad—a fine of 34,000 to 51,000 hryvnias (€667-€1,000) or imprisonment for three to five years.
The document also sets out a mechanism for exemption from liability: if the offender returns to Ukraine within the prescribed period, criminal prosecution will not follow. Depending on the nature of the violation, the return period ranges from 30 to 60 days.
The initiative is justified by Interior Ministry data: in the ministry’s assessment, the current measures do not have a sufficient punitive or deterrent effect. The number of recorded illegal border crossings rose from more than 3,000 in 2021 to more than 20,000 in 2024.
No timetable has yet been set for bringing the bill up for consideration.