Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated during a briefing on August 29 that the decision to allow men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad will not negatively affect the country’s defense capability. According to him, the new order is aimed at preserving the younger generation for Ukraine and preventing the loss of connection between youth and their homeland.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“We really need, if we want to keep Ukrainian boys in Ukraine, for them to finish school here first. And for their parents not to take them away, as they are starting to take them away before finishing school. And this is very bad because they lose connection with Ukraine,” said the head of state.
Reasons and Conditions for Changing the Travel Order
The President noted that the issue of young people leaving the country is gaining momentum, which is why the decision was made to allow boys aged 18–22 to leave. Zelensky emphasized that this decision was coordinated with military officials and representatives of the education sector. The goal is to give young people the opportunity to complete their education in schools and enroll in universities specifically in Ukraine, which, according to the president, will help strengthen their connection with the state and contribute to the country’s development.
As of August 28, updated rules for travel for men in this age category have come into effect. At the same time, the border service reminds that the changes do not apply to citizens holding certain positions in government bodies or state enterprises. For them, traveling abroad remains possible only with documents for official business trips.
Expanding Opportunities for Youth
The changes occurred after the government updated the procedure for crossing the state border. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that men aged 18 to 22 can now cross the border without hindrance during the state of war. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko emphasized that the main goal is to provide young Ukrainians with broader opportunities for education, internships, and legal employment abroad. The experience gained there, according to government officials, will later be used for the development of Ukraine.
It should be noted that since the beginning of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the introduction of martial law, strict restrictions have been in place for military conscripts aged 18 to 60 regarding travel outside the country.