Ukraine Allows Men 18-22 to Leave Amid Rising Draft-Evasion Attempts to Belarus

Ukraine has recently eased travel restrictions for men aged 18 to 22, allowing them to leave the country, a change aimed at enabling young men to study abroad without fearing conscription. Despite this, there has been a sharp increase in attempts by men aged 18 to 60 to illegally cross into Belarus to avoid mobilization, with over 900 detained in 2025 alone—double the number from previous years combined. The Ukrainian government is responding with proposed criminal penalties for military-age men who violate travel rules during martial law, while also investigating corruption schemes that facilitated draft evasion. Meanwhile, efforts to return Ukrainian children kidnapped or deported by Russia continue, with more than 1,500 children safely repatriated and undergoing rehabilitation. Additionally, 65 Ukrainians who were stranded at the Russia-Georgia border after being deported from Russia have been flown back to Ukraine following negotiations, highlighting ongoing challenges for displaced Ukrainians. These developments reflect Ukraine's ongoing struggle with the human costs of war, including conscription pressures, illegal border crossings, and the repatriation of abducted citizens.