Recognition of Japan’s sovereignty over the Kuril Islands, changes to registration with military for women, and government budget-2023

The Verkhovna Rada recognized that the USSR has occupied islands Habomai and Shikotan, adopted the government budget-2023 in the first reading, and changed the rules of registration with military for women. 

Draft government budgets-2023 

Draft bill # 8000 of September 14, 2022 

Sponsor: the Cabinet 

Status: adopted in the first reading 

Who is affected: inhabitants of Ukraine, businesses, government bodies, and local governments 

Summary of the bill: 

• revenues of the government budget will be ₴1.279 trillion, spending — ₴2.514 trillion 

• the expected budget deficit is ₴1.280 trillion. It constitutes almost 50% of budget spending. State debt by the end of 2023 will increase to ₴6.4 trillion 
• the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons will be ₴2,684, minimum wage — ₴6,500 or ₴40.46 per working hour 
• the major part of the spending will be allocated to defense. The Ministry of Defense will get ₴858 billion: ₴494 billion — for the maintenance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ₴355 billion — for the procurement of armaments and ammunition. 

What is right: around half of the state resources are allocated to defense and security needs and this is necessary in wartime. 

Registration with military for women 

Draft bill # 6482 of December 28, 2021 

Cosponsors: a group of MPs 

Status: the draft bill has been adopted 

Who is affected: the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military units, women of professions related to corresponding military specialties 

Background information: at the end of March 2021, the Verkhovna Rada amended the Law on Military Duty and Military Service by introducing mandatory registration with military for women whose professions are related to one or more corresponding military specialties. After the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, these amendments caused an intense public response from people fearing massive mobilization of women to service. 

Summary of the bill: 

• retains mandatory registration with military for women with medical and pharmaceutical education 
• lifts mandatory registration with military for women of other professions related to corresponding military specialties 
• allows women of professions related to corresponding military specialties to register with military on a volunteer basis. 

What is right: 

• the bill appeases public response to the possible mass mobilization of women. Such mobilization will not be necessary in the nearest future 
• with less workload, territorial centers of recruitment and social support will be able to focus on their key task of mobilization 
• women will still have an opportunity to register with military voluntarily, so the bill maintains the gender balance. 

Support for the territorial integrity of Japan 

Draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada # 8108 of October 6, 2022 

Cosponsors: a group of MPs 

Status: the resolution has been adopted 

Who is affected: the international community, Japan, and Russia 

Background information: at the end of the Second World War, the Soviet Union occupied a part of the territory of Japan — the Kuril Islands. In Japan, they are called the Northern Territories. After the war, the USSR took an obligation to return the islands Habomai and Shikotan to Japan after a peace treaty is signed. However, no treaty was signed to this day and the islands are still under Russian occupation. 

Summary of the resolution: 

• recognizes that the Northern Territories of Japan are occupied by the Russian Federation 
• declares that Ukraine supports Japan in the restoration of its territorial integrity 
• calls for the international community to assist Japan in the restoration of its territorial integrity. 

What is right: 

• the resolution is in line with the international law and national interests of Ukraine concerning the deimperialization of Russia.