Ukraine Eases War-Time Travel Restrictions for Young Men
Recently, Ukraine has relaxed its war-time travel restrictions by allowing males aged 18 to 22 to freely travel abroad. This marks the first loosening of restrictions for this age group since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War over three years ago.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, announced this policy change on Tuesday, August 26th, on her Telegram channel. She stated that the new measures also apply to “citizens currently abroad for various reasons.”
“We hope that Ukrainians can maintain connections with their homeland as much as possible,” Svyrydenko remarked.
This move comes as the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, is considering amending the law to officially modify the rules on traveling abroad during wartime, granting young men who have not reached conscription age more freedom of movement.
Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk had criticized the current policy as unjust, pointing out that males aged 18 to 25, although not within the mobilization age range, were still prohibited from studying abroad, seeking employment, or reuniting with family.
According to reports from the Ukrainian National Broadcasting Company, Stefanchuk had stated at a youth forum in Kyiv in July: “We must find a mechanism that allows them to exercise these rights.”
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been under martial law and a state of total mobilization, with males aged 18 to 60 generally not allowed to leave the country, except for a few exceptions such as having three or more underage children or having disabled children.
Currently, the Ukrainian military conscripts men aged 25 to 60, but as of July 2024, all males aged 18 to 60 must carry military registration documents with them and present them at the border or during police checks.
According to Eurostat data, as of June 2025, approximately 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens reside in EU countries, with around 1 million being adult males.
In April 2024, the Ukrainian government announced the suspension of consular services for male citizens aged 18 to 60 abroad, requiring them to return to the country to handle passport and related documents. This measure was seen as an effort by authorities to strengthen mobilization of reserve forces and improve conscription efficiency.
In 2025, both Ukraine and Russia continue to bolster their military strength. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated in January that around 880,000 soldiers nationwide are engaged in defense and combat efforts. However, Ukraine’s war efforts heavily rely on military and economic assistance from Western countries.
In the spring of this year, Russia issued a draft notice for 160,000 individuals, marking the largest spring conscription since 2011. It is believed that between 580,000 to 700,000 active-duty military personnel have been deployed in Ukraine or nearby regions, while Ukraine’s military intelligence estimates this number to be around 620,000.
The original article, “Ukraine Allows Men Below Draft Age to Go Abroad,” was published on the English-language website of the Epoch Times.