News - Ukraine Border Says No Surge After Easing Travel Rules for Under-22s

A spokesman for Ukraine’s State Border Service said on Saturday that there is no surge in border traffic after men below 22 are allowed to cross the border. The statement came after the government’s decision to ease travel restrictions for men aged 18 to 22 starting Thursday, Aug. 28, rolling back the blanket wartime ban that has barred all military-age men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the border service, said on television that no surge has been observed, with steady traffic recorded for both entries and exits among 18–22-year-olds since the law took effect. “This did not significantly affect the passenger flow. In fact, the passenger flow remains the same as it was a few days ago. On weekdays, it continues to fluctuate from 125,000 to 135,000 citizens as of now,” Demchenko said. “Yesterday, 133,000 citizens crossed the border, and the dynamics were in a percentage ratio of 50 to 50 – both for entry into Ukraine and exit,” he added. However, Demchenko said those who work in the government are still under travel restrictions and can only leave the country on official business trips. Those who committed a crime – including not updating their military registration – also cannot leave the country, he said. “There are several refusals due to the fact that people were wanted. Border guards have access to the ‘Oberih’ [military registration] system to check whether a person is evading updating their military registration data,” Demchenko added. The government indicated it fears alienating younger Ukrainians who have already gone abroad and are hesitant to return, which is why the law was introduced to ease restrictions. According to the note of the draft law, the ban on free movement across the border “creates serious obstacles for young people to return to Ukraine, and creates difficulties for maintaining ties with relatives and the Motherland.” Another concern is families sending teenage boys abroad before they turn 18 to sidestep restrictions, fearing their sons could otherwise be trapped in Ukraine. Eurostat estimates that of the 4.3 million Ukrainians living in the EU, around 860,000 are adult men. In response to this exodus of draft-age citizens, Ukraine previously curtailed consular services for those abroad.