The new regulation was confirmed on Tuesday, August 26: Ukrainians aged 18 to 22 are now allowed to leave the country. Martial law, which has been in force since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022, had until now banned all men aged 18 to 60 from leaving Ukraine, with only rare exceptions, in order to ensure the army had enough recruits to fill its ranks.
The relaxation of the rules also allows Ukrainian citizens under the age of 23 who live abroad to return to Ukraine without fear of being prevented from leaving again. This aim was emphasized by the new prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, who has been in office since mid-July. “We want Ukrainians to maintain their ties with Ukraine as much as possible,” she explained Tuesday on Telegram. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “all the details have been agreed upon with the military command.”
The announcement was met with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism from several experts and political leaders, as Ukraine faces a severe demographic crisis and the prospect of an end to the conflict appears distant for now. The ban on leaving the country is one of many sources of tension in Ukrainian society. Families whose members have taken refuge abroad fear losing contact with their loved ones.
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