Mass Exodus of Young Ukrainians Following Easing of Exit Regulations
In the past two months, Ukraine has witnessed a significant outflow of young men of conscription age, totaling nearly 100,000 individuals.
This trend emerged after the government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, eased the strict exit regulations initially introduced to ensure sufficient military staffing.
As a result, thousands of Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 have seized the opportunity to leave the country, seeking better living conditions or avoiding conscription.
The Polish border service reported that from the end of August, more than 99,000 young Ukrainians crossed into Poland—numbers that greatly exceed the typical flow of migrants in this age group.
This figure is twice the size of the British Army’s total personnel, which is around 70,000 soldiers.
Similarly, Germany experienced a rapid increase in arrivals of Ukrainian youths, from 19 to over 1,000 weekly by mid-September, rising to between 1,400 and 1,800 per week by October.
The easing of restrictions and the desire to escape military service or improve personal circumstances have fueled this migration, raising concerns about its potential impact on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
In her article, Valentina Klimus explores the strategic implications of this trend, emphasizing the need to strike a delicate balance between humanitarian policies and national security priorities.