Men under 25 will be able to cross the border: draft law No. 13685 registered in the Verkhovna Rada

A new bill No. 13685 in the Verkhovna Rada is supposed to sort out the rules for guys under 25 leaving Ukraine. Check out the details on what rules will apply, who's affected, and what's next for this bill

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The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has registered bill No. 13685, which provides for permission for Ukrainian men under the age of 22 to travel abroad. This issue has been actively discussed in society for several weeks, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously announced a corresponding initiative, and the government was considering the possibility of regulating it by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Bill in the Rada

Today, August 25, a bill was registered in parliament that would change the procedure for leaving Ukraine for conscripts and military personnel under the age of 25. The document was initiated by People's Deputy Fedir Venislavsky from the Servant of the People faction, together with a group of parliamentarians.

The bill appeared in parliament in the afternoon, but its text has not yet been made public. As Venislavsky himself confirmed, this is indeed a presidential initiative.

Why are changes being proposed?

With the start of full-scale war in Ukraine, restrictions were imposed on the departure of men aged 18 to 60. This decision was made to ensure mobilization and the fulfillment of citizens' constitutional duty to defend the country.

However, as noted in the explanatory note, men between the ages of 18 and 25 cannot actually be called up during mobilization. At the same time, they are also not allowed to leave the country.

“This ban creates serious obstacles for young people studying or working abroad to return to Ukraine, makes it difficult to maintain contact with their families, and encourages them to look for ways to circumvent the law,” the document says.

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Who is currently allowed to leave the country?

Currently, exceptions apply to only two categories:

- contract soldiers under the age of 25;

- students of Ukrainian universities aged 18–22 who are participating in academic mobility programs.

Other young men, however, cannot freely cross the border, even if they are not subject to mobilization.

What does the draft law provide for?

The law “On the procedure for departure from Ukraine and entry into Ukraine of citizens of Ukraine” proposes to clearly stipulate that the restrictions on departure do not apply to conscripts and persons liable for military service who have not yet reached the age of conscription during mobilization in the current or next year.

A clarification is also added to the article regulating the departure of military personnel: “unless otherwise provided by law.”

The adoption of the law will regulate the issue of border crossing for men under 25, remove bureaucratic problems with documents and military registration, and facilitate the return of young people who have left the country. According to the authors of the bill, this will also strengthen young citizens' trust in the state and preserve their ties with their homeland.

Who will be allowed to leave?

The law on mobilization already stipulates that Ukrainians under the age of 25 are not subject to mobilization. The new initiative is based on this provision.

In its current form, the bill stipulates that the right to leave cannot be restricted for those under the age of 23. Thus, men between the ages of 18 and 22 will be able to cross the border without additional conditions.

Fedir Venislavsky explained that discussions are ongoing as to whether to leave the age limit at 22 or raise it to 23. The final decision will depend on the position of the military and political leadership.

Zelensky's initiative

In mid-August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed simplifying border crossing for young Ukrainians under the age of 22.

Initially, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko suggested that the Cabinet of Ministers would adopt a resolution. However, the government decided to refer the issue to the Verkhovna Rada.

Parallel initiatives

It should be noted that several other bills concerning the departure of Ukrainians abroad have been registered in parliament at the same time. In particular:

- a Cabinet of Ministers document providing for criminal liability for illegal border crossing (up to three years' imprisonment);

- punishment for violating the terms of stay abroad for conscripts and reservists during martial law (3-5 years in prison);

- a separate bill proposing to allow men under the age of 24 to leave the country.

What's next?

Bill No. 13685 must be reviewed by the relevant committees and voted on in the session hall. The final version may differ from the initial draft, as the age limit is still under discussion.

If the initiative is supported, those aged 22–23 will be able to legally leave and return without fear of being “locked in” Ukraine, and all young people under the age of 25 will have clearer and fairer rules for crossing the border.

Reminder! In 2025, separate border crossing rules will apply to men. Find out which categories of men can leave Ukraine without restrictions and what documents are required for this.

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