Zelenskyy Instructs Government to Ease Border Restrictions for Ukrainians Under 22

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed raising the age limit for border crossing restrictions from 18 to 22 in order to ease travel limitations on young Ukrainian men amid ongoing martial law due to the conflict with Russia. This initiative aims to help Ukraine's youth maintain ties to their homeland and pursue education within the country, addressing concerns about a declining student population and potential brain drain. Currently, men aged 18 to 60 face travel bans, although only those 25 and older are subject to the draft, prompting many teenagers to leave before 18 to avoid restrictions. Zelenskyy has also instructed the government to simplify university admission processes, including possibly introducing a winter admission campaign to prevent delays for prospective students. The move is seen as vital to retaining young talent and preventing further decline in education enrollment, which recently hit a nine-year low. Parliamentary discussions are ongoing about adjusting military mobilization ages, but no new bills have been introduced, with voluntary military service remaining an option for young men aged 18 to 24.