Ukraine has announced a policy change allowing men aged 18 to 22 to freely cross the country's borders under martial law, a restriction that had been in place since February 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion. This decision, confirmed by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was made in agreement with the military command. The easing of travel restrictions applies to Ukrainian men within this age group both inside the country and those already abroad. Since the policy change, thousands of young men have left Ukraine, with reports indicating that over 11,000 crossed the border within half a day and nearly 16,000 by the following day. The majority have headed to neighboring countries such as Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark, where financial support and free living arrangements have been offered. Ukrainian authorities anticipate that up to 400,000 people may leave Ukraine between 2025 and 2026, with an estimated 70% unlikely to return, potentially exacerbating the country's demographic and manpower challenges amid ongoing conflict. The policy shift aims to address the high number of young men leaving the country before reaching conscription age, but it has raised concerns about the impact on Ukraine's military recruitment and manpower. Meanwhile, reports also highlight a continuing trend of desertions within the Ukrainian armed forces, with official statistics indicating over 17,000 criminal cases related to desertion in July alone and daily desertions exceeding 400 personnel.