After the adoption of a new decision by the Ukrainian government to allow young men to leave the country, the observed movement on the Polish borders increased significantly. According to the British publication The Telegraph, nearly 100,000 Ukrainian citizens aged 18-22 have entered Poland in the last two months.
According to the Polish Border Service, in the first eight months of the year, that is, before the new norm came into force, this figure was around 45 thousand. But at the end of August, when the law came into force, all the figures rose sharply - within two months, 98.5 thousand young men entered Poland. This means that an average of 1,600 Ukrainian men cross the border every day.
What did the new law change?
From August 28, the barrier for young people aged 18-22 to travel abroad was lifted in Ukraine. Previously, men under 60 were prohibited from leaving the country due to martial law. This restriction only applied to certain exceptions - for example, those based on health or family reasons.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klimenko wrote on his Telegram page:
At the same time, the ministry reminded that this decision may be temporary and may be revised depending on the military situation in the country.
The influx of young Ukrainians is also growing in Germany
Other European countries are also experiencing the influx of Ukrainian youth. According to the German Interior Ministry, the number of requests for temporary protection from Ukraine has increased several times. If previously an average of 100 applications were received per week, now this number has reached 1000.
According to the German Ministry of Internal Affairs, in May 2025, 7,961 people were officially registered, and in August - 11,277, and in September - 18,755 applications. These citizens will be issued a residence permit in the country and will have the right to enter the labor market and receive social assistance.
Debates in European political circles
Some European politicians are concerned about this trend. The Prime Minister of Bavaria and head of the Christian Social Union of Germany, Markus Söder, stressed the need to restrict the entry of young Ukrainians into the country. In an interview with Bild, he said:
"If more young people come to Germany instead of staying in Ukraine and defending their homeland, it won't be beneficial for anyone."
This statement divided public opinion in Germany - on one side are supporters of a humanitarian approach, and on the other side are those who prioritize military responsibility.
New test for Ukraine
Today, the most important issue for the Ukrainian leadership is to ensure that there is no shortage of personnel and demographic pressure in the country through the emigration of the younger generation. However, many experts believe that the opportunity for young people to move freely and gain experience can also become a positive factor for the future of Ukraine.
For now, the Ukrainian government is trying to keep the situation under control. However, statistics indicate that the influx of young Ukrainians to European borders may continue for a long time.
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