A wave of Ukrainian youth aged 18-22 crossed the border to neighboring countries in the past month, after the Ukrainian government issued a decree to ease travel restrictions under martial law. This policy change has quickly created a significant flow of migrants.
According to data from the Slovakian Border Police, more than 11,000 Ukrainian youth of this age entered Slovakia for just one month (from late August to late September). The number of people crossing the border increased dramatically on September 21-22, with about 500 people crossing the border each day. Migration is not limited to Slovakia. During the same period, more than 56,000 Ukrainians of the same age crossed the border into Poland.
The direct cause of this increase is the decree issued by the Ukrainian government on August 28, allowing men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country during the martial law.
Previously, according to initial regulations, all men over 18 years old were banned from leaving the country when the conflict broke out, although the common law only stipulated that the age of military service was from 25. This easing has created a "cknowledge" for young people who want to leave.
The migration trend seems to be spreading more widely. In Germany, the number of Ukrainians seeking asylum has also increased 10 times since the end of August. According to the German Interior Ministry, the number of registrants skyrocketed from around 8,000 in May to nearly 19,000 in September, showing a marked upward trend after the ban on exit was relaxed.
The wave of young people leaving raises big questions about the future of Ukraine's demography and human resources. The departure of a large number of young men, who could contribute to future reconstruction or defense efforts, could have long-term consequences for Ukraine's society and economy, especially in the context of the endless conflict.
