A new law announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky this week allows Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country, reversing a wartime ban that for more than three years barred much of the male population from travel outside Ukraine.
The change removes restrictions that had prevented men between 18 and 60 from crossing the border under martial law introduced after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky said the move was aimed in part at keeping young people connected to Ukraine by allowing them to study and work abroad temporarily rather than lose ties entirely. He added that families should ensure young men finish school in Ukraine to maintain that connection.
The policy shift prompted a quick response at border crossings. Young men queued at the Shehyni crossing with Poland this week to take advantage of the new rules, and some university students and recent school leavers said they planned to travel immediately. Roman Melnik, a 22-year-old swimming coach in Kyiv, told the BBC he was preparing to move to the Czech Republic to work while saving to move to the United States. He said the announcement offered a long-sought chance to leave before he turns 23 and the ban would again apply.
Officials and analysts warned the change could exacerbate an existing manpower shortage for Ukraine’s armed forces. The government and Western partners have already been grappling with recruitment challenges since the war’s outset. In April last year, Ukraine lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 to try to boost numbers. The United States and other allies have reportedly urged Kyiv to consider reducing the conscription age further.
The human cost of the conflict and long-term demographic trends have intensified the problem. The United Nations estimates that as of February 2025 the war created 6.7 million refugees and 3.7 million internally displaced people, and that Ukraine’s population has fallen by about 10 million since the fighting began. UNHCR polling shows the share of Ukrainians who wanted to return home fell to 65% in 2024 from 77% a year earlier, while those saying they definitely would not return rose from 5% to 11%.
Domestic indicators point to depleted enrollment and a quieter civic life in many educational institutions. Universities and high schools report smaller class sizes, particularly in final-year cohorts, as families sometimes pull boys out of school to send them abroad before they reach age restrictions. The Kyiv School of Economics has launched a “Come Back Home” initiative offering grants to encourage those who left to return and continue their studies.
The government has taken measures to retain and mobilize young people while also offering alternatives. Earlier this year officials introduced a one-year volunteer contract for people aged 18–24 with competitive pay and benefits meant to lure recruits before they would otherwise be subject to conscription. Still, analysts say the lifting of the travel ban could reduce the pool of available recruits over time.
Yevhen Mahda, director of the Institute of World Policy in Kyiv, said the policy change appeared politically motivated and could be intended to release public pressure following domestic demonstrations earlier this year. “There is little logic and a lot of politics here,” he said, adding that the government may have offered the move as a safety valve to alleviate discontent among younger citizens.
Some Ukrainians expressed relief at the government decision. At a border crossing, 22-year-old Mykhailo said he had visited all he could in Ukraine and welcomed the chance to travel. Twenty-year-old Volodymyr said his brother in the United States hoped to bring family members over, and called the new rules entirely positive. Others remain determined to stay. Denys Vetushko, 24, a volunteer who helped patrol his hometown and now works to supply military brigades, said he had no plans to leave and would not condemn those who choose to seek safety and comfort.
The State Border Guard service reported that about 13,000 people attempted to leave Ukraine illegally since the start of the year, some making repeated attempts or hiring smugglers. Officials say the new legal pathway is intended to reduce such risky movements by providing a regulated option, including the ability to return to Ukraine without the risk of being detained at the border.
The war’s toll has been large and enduring. In a rare public update last December, Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died and 370,000 had been wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion; officials have warned those figures have continued to rise. Analysts also point to a declining birthrate that predates the war as another factor that narrows the long-term pool of potential recruits.
Western leaders have voiced concern about Ukraine’s ability to sustain a prolonged conflict without sufficient manpower. During a high-profile Oval Office meeting in February, former President Donald Trump said Ukraine was “running low on soldiers,” a comment that underscored allied worries about how Kyiv will maintain its defense lines over time.
For now, Kyiv faces a balancing act: permitting temporary departures to keep young people connected to the country and to reduce illegal border crossings, while seeking ways to replenish its armed forces and retain talent. How many of those who leave under the new rules will return, and whether the measure will relieve or worsen recruitment shortfalls, will be closely watched by Ukrainian officials and their partners as the war continues.
