A new discussion has begun in Ukraine regarding the possible relaxation of rules for traveling abroad for men under the age of 25. According to Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovy, such an idea is being actively discussed in parliamentary circles and is at the stage of preliminary study.
We are talking about young people who have not yet reached the age of conscription for military service. The initiative under discussion aims to remove barriers to education, relocation or other opportunities associated with living outside the country. In fact, this is a question of the mobility of a generation that does not yet fall into the priority categories of mobilization.
Officials say more and more school graduates are trying to continue their education or build careers abroad. However, due to martial law and travel restrictions for men, even those not yet subject to mobilization face serious difficulties.
At the same time, as the government notes, Ukraine lacks centralized and accurate data on the number of graduates who leave the country after completing school. This complicates monitoring and planning of state education policy.
Despite all the restrictions, the government continues to emphasize the importance of maintaining contact with Ukrainian youth who temporarily leave the country. As noted by the Ministry of Education, the main thing is to create conditions so that these young people have an incentive and opportunity to return and work for the benefit of the state after completing their studies or gaining experience.
There are currently no concrete decisions, but there are more and more signals in the public space that Ukraine may move to a more flexible policy regarding the departure of young men who are not yet a mobilization resource.
This decision, if implemented, will be an important step in supporting the educational and professional mobility of a new generation of Ukrainians — at a time when the country is fighting for its future on many fronts.
