Ukraine no longer requires travel permits for young men

Since Russia's invasion in 2022, Ukrainian men aged 18–60 have faced strict travel restrictions. But a recent rule change now allows men under 23 to cross the border freely. At the Lviv-Poland checkpoint, younger men join women, children, and pensioners heading west. While most say they’ll return, some seek work abroad. Critics fear the move signals waning urgency in Ukraine’s war effort, while supporters see it as a way to retain students longer.