'There is no slavery in Ukraine:' Zelenskyy on traveling abroad
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Office of the President of Ukraine)
Ukraine does not restrict the movement of citizens who are not of mobilization age and have the necessary permits—they are free to travel abroad at any time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his visit to the Kyiv Aviation Institute on February 8.
"There is no slavery in Ukraine… Those who want to leave, who are not of mobilization age, may go. Those who want to leave, they can," he noted.
The president stated that the government is primarily focused on citizens who return home or remain in Ukraine. Regarding the return of Ukrainians from abroad, Zelenskyy stressed that the state should encourage it by improving living conditions, rather than through public appeals.
"Those who left will come back. People with technical degrees are crucial for rebuilding the country. Everyone will be needed. We will recover—technically, technologically. Energy, agriculture, but technology comes first," he explained.
The president also added that citizens who love their country will return to defend it against Russian troops and help rebuild after the war.
"If they are of the age to defend the state, they defend their country. The most important thing is that they are defending a normal state, one they want to live in," Zelenskyy concluded.
#Ukraine does not restrict the movement of citizens who are not of mobilization age and have the necessary permits—they are free to travel abroad at any time pic.twitter.com/7k0Pdx06rw
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) February 8, 2026
Ukrainians' traveling abroad
At the end of August 2026, Ukraine permitted young men aged 18–22 to leave the country, following a government decree after the Ukrainian parliament approved relevant legislative changes.
Since the change, reports indicate that more Ukrainians are leaving the country to seek asylum in European countries. In Germany, applications from Ukrainians reportedly surged to around 1,000 per week, up from just 100 previously.
The increase has prompted some German officials to call for stricter migration policies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ensure that Ukrainian men remain in Ukraine, regardless of age.
