New Mobilization Law from May 18: Vehicle Seizure for the Needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

On May 18, a new mobilization law came into effect, allowing the seizure of vehicles for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). During martial law, vehicles can be seized from citizens who own two or more cars, state authorities, local authorities, as well as enterprises and organizations.

The vehicles to be seized are those that can be used on the front lines: trucks, minibusses, tractors, and off-road vehicles. An essential condition is that the vehicles must be in good working condition and suitable for field use. The right to seize vehicles is granted to representatives of territorial recruitment and social support centers (TRC and SSC), acting based on decisions of local state administrations. The seizure is carried out through transfer-acceptance acts, which include information about the owner, the technical condition, and the value of the vehicle.

Vehicles that are the sole means of subsistence for the owner or the only vehicle in possession are exempt from seizure. Additionally, vehicles used by healthcare institutions, fire protection, and rescue services, as well as vehicles of citizens with disabilities of group I or II and parents of children with disabilities, cannot be seized.

Owners of seized vehicles that sustain damage during use are entitled to monetary compensation. The amount of compensation is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, taking into account the estimated value of the vehicle and the period of its use by the military. Compensation will be paid after the end of martial law.