Tens of thousands of young Ukrainian men rushed to the Polish border on Thursday following the enactment of a new law allowing men aged 18 to 22, previously barred from leaving the country, to now depart freely.
Footage circulating on social media showed long queues at the Ukraine–Poland border, with traffic jams stretching for miles as families and buses lined up for hours.
The original restriction was introduced on February 24, 2022, when President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law after Russia’s invasion. Under those wartime measures, men aged 18 to 60 were prohibited from leaving the country, and men over 25 were subject to mandatory conscription into Ukraine’s armed forces.
This restriction led many to attempt dangerous and illegal crossings through rivers and mountain passes or to cut their way through barbed wire fences in hopes of escaping. Human rights groups estimate that hundreds have died during such attempts since the war began.
Earlier this month, Zelensky instructed lawmakers to revise the policy to ease pressure on families and to address growing discontent among younger men. The measure, announced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Tuesday, officially came into effect on Thursday, enabling men aged 18 to 22 to leave legally.
Previously, many parents of teenage boys faced immense pressure to send their sons abroad before they turned 18 and became subject to the travel ban.
While numerous men at the border told reporters they intended to return to Ukraine eventually, analysts believe a significant portion may remain abroad until the conflict subsides.
The decision comes as Ukraine faces mounting manpower shortages, with its military increasingly reliant on forced conscription to replace heavy battlefield losses. Reports earlier this year indicated that the average age of a Ukrainian soldier has risen to 42, compared to roughly 31 when the war began. This trend reflects demographic challenges, including declining birth rates since the mid-1990s and a younger generation increasingly resistant to compulsory service.