The Cabinet of Ministers has allowed men under 22 to travel abroad: when will the changes take effect?
фото: ДПСУ
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution that allows Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 to cross the state border without hindrance, even during martial law.
She wrote about this in Telegram .
It is noted that the government document will come into force the day after its official publication. As Svyridenko clarified, the new rules also apply to citizens who are already abroad.
“We want Ukrainians to maintain ties with Ukraine as much as possible. This is an important step for young people who seek to learn and develop while remaining part of Ukrainian society,” she emphasized.
The prerequisite for such changes was the instruction of President Volodymyr Zelensky. On August 12, he stated that young Ukrainians should be given more freedom to study and integrate into international programs. Subsequently, the Verkhovna Rada registered draft law No. 13685, which provides for the extension of this norm to men under the age of 24, with the exception of those who have already turned or will soon turn 25.
Under the current mobilization law, men under the age of 25 are not subject to conscription. At the same time, they faced a conflict: those who left before the age of 18 did not return, so as not to lose the right to leave again, and others could not leave even for studies or internships. The new decision should eliminate these barriers.
Earlier, back in July, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, emphasized that restrictions for men aged 18 to 22 are unfair, because they are not subject to mobilization, but at the same time are limited in the exercise of basic rights.
It is worth recalling that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, men aged 18 to 60 have been banned from traveling abroad, with certain exceptions – people with disabilities, parents of many children, guardians, students, and representatives of critical professions. Now, the category of men under 22 has been given the legal right to leave the country freely.
Earlier , a bill was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada that could allow men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad .
It is worth noting that Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the government to prepare changes that would simplify crossing the state border for men under the age of 22.
By the way, the Servant of the People proposed expanding the possibilities for Ukrainians to travel abroad during martial law, allowing this not only to young men, but also to everyone who has legal grounds for a deferment from mobilization.
Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram .