Ukraine explains border opening for men aged 18–22
Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (photo: facebook.com/Pavlo.Palisa)
Ukraine allows men aged 18–22 to leave the country to "preserve young men for Ukraine," Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa said.
"This will eliminate the need for parents to take their 16-year-old children abroad so that they can study in some vocational schools there. Parents worry that 'if tomorrow the mobilization age is lowered to 18, my child will be taken into the army,'" Palisa said.
He emphasized that lowering the mobilization age is not currently being considered.
"With an understanding of the overall difficult situation on the front line, at the moment this issue is not on the table — I mean lowering the mobilization age," the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office noted.
Palisa also responded to the question of whether this government decision undermines the state's efforts to attract volunteers aged 18–24 under the program introduced this year.
"Choice is important. Freedom of choice is important. And in terms of recruitment, we must create such conditions that will ensure competitiveness and the advantage of this option over others," he said.
Exit of men aged 18–22 abroad
On August 27, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine published a resolution allowing men aged 18 to 22 to cross the border during martial law.
Such men are required to carry not only a foreign passport but also a military registration document. These documents must be presented at border checkpoints upon request by State Border Guard Service officers.
Starting the morning of August 28, men aged 18–22 were indeed allowed to cross the border. Some have already managed to leave.
