The Ukrainian government has changed border crossing regulations, allowing young men who were previously prohibited from leaving the country to now cross the border. Ukraine has maintained a ban on the departure of adult males since the Russian invasion.
On the 26th (local time), according to the Financial Times (FT), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted via X (formerly Twitter) that he has established new regulations in consultation with military officials, stating that "men aged 18 to 22 will also be granted permission to leave the country soon."
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also stated that "these regulations will apply to citizens residing abroad," and added that she hopes the younger generation will maintain their connection with their homeland as much as possible.
Earlier, the Ukrainian government declared martial law immediately after the war with Russia broke out, prohibiting most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country, with some exceptional circumstances. Mandatory conscription is possible from ages 25 to 60.
The ban on male departures has consistently sparked controversy, with reports of individuals who were studying abroad refusing to return and fleeing overseas. There have also been cases of parents refusing conscription sending their sons under 18 abroad, resulting in a severe imbalance in the female-to-male ratio.
Olexandr Fediienko, a member of the ruling Servant of the People party, told FT in an interview that "universities are filled with female students," and he noted that a revision is inevitable to prevent the outflow of talent abroad.
However, the Ukrainian government has stated that it will maintain the current minimum age for conscription. Last year in April, Ukraine lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25, although the United States and some European countries have pressured for an even lower age. President Zelensky has repeatedly expressed his refusal, stating that "lowering the conscription age will only be possible after significant expansion of Western military aid."
Public opinion within Ukraine is overwhelmingly opposed to lowering the conscription age. According to a poll released by the Sosys communication agency, 86.5% of Ukrainians are reported to oppose a reduction in the conscription age.
Instead, the Ukrainian government has stated its intention to encourage voluntary enlistment among young people. Earlier this year, the government introduced a one-year short-term military service program offering up to 1 million hryvnias (approximately $3.37 million) to applicants aged 18 to 24, although it is reported that the demand for troops has not yet been met. Some have raised structural issues regarding the population of young people being insufficient due to low birth rates in the 1990s.
Ukraine has been making various efforts to address the manpower shortage. On the 29th, President Zelensky signed a bill allowing older individuals to enlist, which enables citizens over 60 who pass medical examinations to serve in non-combat roles for a year under contract.
Meanwhile, as the war drags on, both countries are estimated to be facing severe casualties. According to the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), it has been assessed that up to 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and up to 250,000 Russian soldiers have died since the war began.