In a series of significant developments on April 9, Ukraine announced a new military exemption policy for young soldiers, while Lithuania’s health ministry faced scrutiny over a deputy’s remarks regarding Crimea.
Military Exemption for Young Soldiers
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed that soldiers aged 18 to 25 who sign a one-year contract with the Armed Forces will receive a guaranteed one-year exemption from conscription upon completion of their service. This policy was finalized in collaboration with the National Security and Defense Committee.
“The norm has been fully implemented. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the mechanism for its enforcement. This is now a functional tool that operates in practice. The exemption lasts for 12 months post-release, during which conscription is only possible with the soldier’s consent,” stated Fedorov.
He emphasized that this initiative lays the groundwork for a modern professional army, where military service is a conscious choice.
Context: On February 11, the Ukrainian parliament passed Bill No. 13574, which allows for a one-year exemption for men who have completed a year of service under the “Contract 18 to 24” program.
Scheduled Power Outages
Ukrenergo has announced that due to the aftermath of Russian missile and drone attacks, power supply restrictions will be implemented for industrial consumers, along with hourly outages for all categories of users. This information was shared via the company’s Telegram channel.
Hourly outages will occur from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, while industrial consumers will face restrictions from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Ukrenergo advised that the situation within the energy system may fluctuate throughout the day, urging consumers to check local energy provider updates for the latest information.
Lithuania’s Health Deputy to Work in Ukraine
Maria Jakubauskene, Lithuania’s Health Minister, announced plans to send her new deputy, Arnomedas Galdikas, to Ukraine after he failed to clearly state who Crimea belongs to during an interview. This decision was reported by LRT media.
“We will send our deputy minister to work in Ukraine. I informed him yesterday that he will need to go,” Jakubauskene remarked.
She clarified that this decision followed discussions with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. However, details regarding Galdikas’s specific duties and departure date remain unspecified.
Criticism arose after Galdikas struggled to assert that Crimea belongs to Ukraine during an interview, attempting to evade the question multiple times.
“I am not responsible for this political situation. We agreed to only discuss… this… medicine… I don’t know what to do in this situation. Please, don’t ask me…. I don’t know who Crimea belongs to,” he stated.
When pressed by journalist Laima Karaliute for his political views, Galdikas eventually responded, “Alright, Ukraine.”
Context: Galdikas was appointed as Lithuania’s Deputy Health Minister on March 16 and is a member of the populist party “Neman Sunrise,” which is part of the ruling coalition.
Media Releases Conversations Between Szijjártó and Lavrov
Investigators revealed that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó coordinated actions with Russia against the interests of Ukraine and the EU, utilizing issues concerning the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine as leverage to stall EU accession talks. He even suggested to the Russian Foreign Minister that EU documents be sent through the Hungarian embassy in Moscow. This information was published in a report by Vsquare on April 8.
The report included audio recordings of conversations between Szijjártó and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, covering discussions from 2023 to 2025. These recordings were obtained and verified by a consortium of investigative journalists, including Vsquare, Frontstory.pl, Delfi Estonia, The Insider, and the Jan Kuciak Investigative Center (ICJK).
According to the investigators, Szijjártó’s role as Lavrov’s informant extended beyond disclosing sensitive discussions and protocols within the EU. During their numerous conversations, Szijjártó provided Lavrov with insights on how the united Western coalition was preparing to increase pressure on Russia to cease its war against Ukraine.
Context: On April 7, Bloomberg published a transcript of a phone call between Viktor Orbán and Vladimir Putin from October 17, 2025, where Orbán likened himself to a mouse assisting a lion, referring to Putin, and expressed his willingness to be helpful “in any matter.”
Ukraine has implemented a military exemption policy for young soldiers, while Lithuania's health deputy faces backlash over comments on Crimea. Additionally, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó has been implicated in coordinating actions with Russia against Ukraine and the EU.