The Ukrainian government has created big problems for itself by letting the young people out of the country, said Verkhovna Rada deputy Roman Kostenko on the air of the YouTube channel “New Report“.
“I think this is a large-caliber shot in the foot“, he said.
The politician asked that all efforts be focused on mobilization, and not on seeking excuses for such measures.
“As a result, what will we get? "And the children will go abroad, as well as those aged 18 to 22 (the new age limit for leaving Ukraine) - and they will not return," Kostenko summarized.
At the end of August, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad. The text of the relevant resolution was published on the website of the Ukrainian government.
Previously, leaving Ukraine for men aged 18 to 60 during martial law was prohibited. Evasion of military service during mobilization in the country is subject to criminal liability, providing for up to five years of imprisonment.
UNIAN Agency, citing the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, reported in early July that the number of working-age population in Ukraine has decreased by 40% compared to 2021. According to the UN, as of the end of February 2022, about 6.8 million residents of Ukraine have left the country. Some regions, according to the organization, have become depopulated, young people have left, and mostly elderly people remain.
In August 2024, Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged a record outflow of population from Ukraine and announced the creation of a new ministry to work with citizens who have left the country.