On February 8-11, 2023, Georgian and Russian-language Facebook accounts disseminated the information that the Ukrainian Oshadbank has started blocking the cards of customers who avoid general conscription and do not report to the military commissariat. As proof, the authors of the posts attached a photo of a written message sent by Oshadbank, which reads: “Your card has been blocked due to non-appearance at the military registration and recruitment office.”
The claim that the Ukrainian Oshadbank blocks its customers’ cards due to failure to report to the military commissariat is disinformation. The bank representatives denied the claim. In addition, according to the existing legislation, such an action is illegal.
The Chairman of the Board of Oshadbank, Sergii Naumov, noted on his personal Telegram account that the disseminated information is false. According to him, this is part of the informational and psychological operation carried out by the enemy (Russia).
To clarify whether Oshadbank has, in fact, sent such messages, the Ukrainian fact-checking organization “StopFake” contacted the bank’s press office. The office replied that the information was false and that Oshadbank does not send such statements.
Notably, currently, banks are not allowed by law to block accounts of customers for avoiding military service. On December 25, 2023, a draft law was registered in the Ukrainian parliament, which provided for the possibility of imposing financial restrictions on such persons; however, due to the protests expressed by the population, the draft law was soon withdrawn.
In February 2024, Yehor Cherniev the deputy chairman of the National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that work on a new law has begun in connection with the mentioned issue, noting that although the evasion of military service is punished by administrative and criminal articles, economic measures may be added as a punishment in the new draft law.
ABOUT THE SOURCES
Facebook user Nona Sharabidze regularly spreads false information and Kremlin narratives of anti-Western content. “Myth Detector” has repeatedly debunked the disinformation amplified by Sharabidze in the past.
Russian-language Facebook user Victor Ruszov publishes anti-Ukrainian, anti-Western, and anti-Israeli content. Many of the user’s posts have been flagged as false information by various fact-checking organizations.
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