It is 9:00 am. Buses and cars are slowly passing through the Sheehyni checkpoint in the area of LVIV, a city close to Ukraine border with Poland. There is no line for pedestrians, most of which are elderly people, women and children. There are many men of all ages.
In late August, the Ukrainian government allowed men between the ages of 18 to 22 to leave the country, where Martial law has been imposing martial law since Russia’s full -scale invasion of Russia in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelansky said that the decision in Ukraine left him for independence and returned. He insisted that the new rule will not affect the defense capabilities of the country.
The move has created a debate in Ukrainian society. There are people who see change positive, while others claim that it is unfair to active military personnel and recruitments.
There are some critics who believe that now many youths who leave will not return.
Why do young Ukrainian men want to go abroad?
DW spent three hours on the Ukrainian-Polish border, talking with many men who were crossing in Poland. Their reasons for leaving Ukraine were diverse.
22-year-old Mycola is a bus driver from Ivano-Frankivsk region. Hey that he wanted to go to his brother -in -law in the Polish city of Cracko. “For one or two weeks,” Hey said, saying that he must have been returning home where his girlfriend waited for him.
Ilya, therefore, the age of 22, from Cryvy Rih, on the way to the Polish capital Warsaw, where she planned to visit a relative.
“The moment has come, and we have to seize the opportunity to see our relatives for a few days,” Heer said.
DW Soe spoke with nine Ukrainians with 18 to 21 years of age, who was on the way to Vrockla for a football match. For some friends, who were traveling in a minibus, this was his first visit abroad. He said that he had decided to take out a few days before the match. After the game, he said, he will return to Ukraine to do his studies.
Ivan, a 21 -year -old dancer, who is crossing with his mother, Gloria. They had no suitcase with the subject, just shopping bags. His only plan was to go to Supermarket in Poland.
“I am helping my mother carry the bag, they might be heavy,” said Ivan. Their purpose was to return to LVIV, where they live on the same day.
For now, Ivan has no plans to go abroad for a long period. He visited several countries as a dancer, explaining. And although the loose of the rules means that he can again participate in international dance competitions abroad, he wants to live in Ukraine and continues his studies, he told DW.
“Next year, I am doing a master in polytechnic institutions. I am happy with everything here. Certainly, war is bad, but I have family and friends here.”
Ivano-Frankivsk 21-year-old Andrey told DW that he wanted to go abroad to make more money. He Hey worked in the oil and gas industry in Ukraine and hoped to find a job as a welder in the Netherlands, where he already has Reeltia and familiar.
He said that Herr returns Ukraine for the new year and holidays, but not for a long time, he said.
Ukrainians of 25 years of age are subject to gathering
According to the new rules, men between 18 and 22 years of age (till the day of the age of 23) can go abroad as many times as you want. Those who do not return will not face any criminal result.
From the age of 25, Ukrainian men are subject to raising. A 25 -year -old man who does not return to Ukraine and reports to the army can withstand the prosecution.
Roman is a minibus driver who takes people to Czech Republic and Germany. Hey said that passengers have increased, new rules came into force.
“There has been a lot of inquiries this week,” said.
He explained that he made a call from five and 10 men every week. This week, Mycola is with him from the Ivano-FrancivSl. The next week, he will transport another 22 -year -old.
Mycola told DW that he definitely wanted to return to Ukraine. “House is house. I can’t imagine myself abroad and do not want to be there.”
Passenger traffic increased due to summer season
Border officials told DW that since the changes in the rules, they had not made a significant increase in young men who left Ukraine.
Switlana Barda, a spokesman for the border guard unit, said, “Passenger traffic has nothing to do with the 18-22 age group in the posts in the LVIV region.” He said that there are some members of that age group at the posts “but not in large numbers.”
He blamed the increase in the number of summer tourism at the checkpoint.
“Passenger traffic is still reaching the peak levels at the posts in the LVIV region,” he said, “with 40% more before the summer season.”
Barda told DW that passenger traffic increased by 16% over the weekend, but was expected to decline in normal numbers by the end of September.
‘Nobody changes their life overnight’
Andry, who is on his way to find work abroad, is pleased with the new rules. “People want to start believing in something better, they will be able to travel, earn money and go on vacation.”
Roman, Minibus Driver, agreed. “If there is a chance to return again and go abroad, it will keep the youth in Ukraine,” Heer said, otherwise they will be more licensed to live abroad.
Ivan’s mother, Gloria believes that most of the young Ukrainians who wanted to leave the country for good had already done.
Some youth can still leave, he said, but most will continue to build a life in Ukraine, only to go on vacation or see something in the world.
“No one changes his life overnight,” he said. “Just to get out of Ukraine?”
This article was the original published in Ukrainian.