Social networks are discussing the ban on the use of military sperm after their death. Clinics allegedly must dispose of frozen biomaterial before March 23, 2024, when the law on freezing military germ cells comes into force.
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It all started with a message on Facebook from lawyer Elena Babich, who was contacted by the wife of a deceased military man.
Before the man left for the front, they decided to cryopreserve the sperm so that if he died, his wife could give birth to a child. However, during this time, a law was passed that prohibited the use of military sperm after his death.
Subsequently, MP, Chairman of the Committee on National Health Mikhail Radutsky reacted to this.
We consider this situation to be wrong and unfair to our heroes and the memory of them. If the families of the heroes are told that there are problems with storing biological material that can be destroyed, then by March we will definitely remove this problem. The Verkhovna Rada will not hesitate to vote for the necessary changes, in particular to the Civil Code and other laws,” he said.
Babich’s indignation was echoed by many users, including the military. Thus, the poetess and soldier Yarina Chernogoz, with reference to familiar deputies, wrote that the parliament provided for a ban on the use of reproductive cells of deceased defenders in order not to pay assistance to their children.
Dear initiators of this amendment to the law, do you really think that widows and widowers give birth to children alone after the death of their loved ones in war for the sake of payments? It is necessary to have an understanding of humanity and the path of a military man at a level below the baseboard,” she noted.
Chernoguz emphasized that for most military personnel it is important that in the event of death there is a child left behind – continuation of the family.
Subsequently, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olga Stefanishyna of the pro-government Servant of the People party, said that “the parliament has a month and a half to correct the shameful mistake.”
At the end of 2023, the Verkhovna Rada allowed military and police officers to donate reproductive cells free of charge so that they could have children after being wounded.
The cost of cell collection is about 450 hryvnia for men and 1 thousand 425 hryvnia for women. The necessary medical examinations before collection can be carried out during the medical commission.
Background
“Public” explained that, as follows from the explanatory note, the law does not provide for the “introduction of state measures” to ensure posthumous paternity or maternity.
However, the legal adviser of the ZMINA Center for Human Rights, Daniil Popkov, explains that this law is not about a ban on the use of sperm. It’s about paying for services for storing reproductive cells.
The military now receives the right to free storage of material in the manner specified by the Cabinet of Ministers. This means that previously people paid for this at their own expense, but under this law the state will now be able to pay for this at the request of the person,” said the lawyer.
According to him, this will be under three conditions:
- The Cabinet of Ministers will adopt a resolution that will detail the procedure for paying for such a service;
- there will be funds for this in the state budget (the law states that funds for this program should be allocated only in 2025, says Popkov);
- a person must apply for free storage service because military personnel are only eligible for such service and do not receive it automatically.
The provision on cell disposal applies to people who in the future will use the storage service using budget funds. That is, it does not apply to those who pay for it at their own expense.
This is not the subject of change and this law. The disposal procedure, its timing, whether it will be possible to pay at your own expense if the state stops funding – should be determined in the future by the Cabinet of Ministers,” the lawyer emphasized.
He adds that the law does not introduce control mechanisms.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.