The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on for over three years, and since its beginning, internal measures restricting travel have been applied to Ukrainian male citizens. This measure is expected in the context of war, where the country’s goal is to have combat-age men available to meet the demands of these conflicts. But now, after much social pressure, a new measure relaxes this rule to some extent. Young people aged 18 to 22 now have the right to leave the country, especially for study or work abroad.
What has changed in travel rules in Ukraine?
The measure easing the country’s exit restrictions for young men was announced on August 28, amid a clear need to maintain ties between citizens abroad. With this measure, the government attempts to balance the need to maintain troops available in the country with the desire and important need to avoid alienating a generation of Ukrainians from other nations.
Under the new rules, Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 20 are free to leave the country during martial law. Previously, the ban extended to men between the ages of 18 and 60, with very specific exceptions. The change was confirmed by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, with the approval of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Who can leave Ukraine, and what are the exceptions?
One of the government’s goals is to prevent families from rushing 16- or 17-year-olds, who are close to reaching adulthood, out of the country, to prevent them from being trapped in Ukrainian territory when they turn 18. The advantage now is that those who live, study, or work abroad can return without worrying about being unable to leave the country again.
It is worth noting, however, that there are exceptions to this rule, but very specific ones. High-ranking politicians and officials who hold positions of strategic importance to the war continue to have travel restrictions, being prohibited from traveling, unless the trip involves official missions.
How the new measure works in practice
Young men eligible under the new rule must follow a clear checklist before leaving the country. To cross the border, they are required to present a valid passport along with military registration documents, and without it, border authorities have the right to deny exit.
The permit is valid only for the duration of martial law, in effect since the Russian invasion in 2022. Furthermore, discussions are already underway to raise the maximum age to 24. If approved by Parliament, more Ukrainians will have access to the possibility of studying or working abroad legally.
The new rule has an impact on many families. Young men who had already been accepted into foreign universities or offered jobs overseas saw their prospects suddenly cut short by the war and travel restrictions. Now, some will finally have the chance to restart their studies or professional journeys that had been interrupted due to the conflict.
Between individual freedom and demographic risk
When it comes to individual freedom of choice, the new rule is extremely favorable to those it applies to, even allowing Ukrainians who could otherwise permanently leave to maintain their roots and return in the future. On the other hand, the relaxation for this age group further weakens a problem that was also a direct consequence of the conflict: the country’s demographic situation, which has seen millions of citizens leave the country since 2022. Allowing more young people to leave Ukraine could exacerbate this issue.
Ukraine’s decision to allow travel for men aged 18 to 22 is the government’s attempt to balance the demands of war with social pressures. Although quite restrictive, the change opens up space for young people to continue their studies or work abroad and still return to Ukraine, keeping their roots without fear of not being able to leave again.