One notices, with the requisite calm that befits serious governance, a notable shift in Kyiv’s approach to border matters. The general exit ban for young men—those aged 18 to 22—has been lifted, and even those under 23 may cross the frontier unimpeded, despite the ongoing martial law. The policy extension reaches citizens abroad as well, allowing them to return and depart again without restrictions, all in the name of preserving ties to the homeland. Historically, combat-ready men between 18 and 60 could only depart with permission to avoid conscription; drafts typically required the lucky number of 25, though younger men could still volunteer. In Chernihiv, the sight of returning men greeting teary families was described as a touching scene. The United Nations notes that more than 5.6 million Ukrainians live abroad, many in Europe, with thousands attempting dangerous illegal crossings each year. These updates are rooted in statements from late August 2025 and July 2025.

One might think the exalted aim here is to nurture a robust sense of national belonging, but one suspects a whiff of theatre more than virtue. The state gestures at sentiment—“ties to the homeland”—while arranging the stage lights in such a way that the crowd believes liberty has expanded, even as the machinery of conscription and wartime discipline remains resolute behind the velvet curtain. It is, frankly, darling, a masterclass in optics: loosen the gates for the impressionable youth and their families, churn the tears of reunions for the cameras, and pretend the nation’s arithmetic has softened. And let us not neglect the diaspora, 5.6 million souls scattered across Europe, many skimming along perilous routes in pursuit of a safer or brighter horizon, while the authorities pat themselves on the back for “keeping bonds strong.” The recurrent refrain—that this is about sovereignty and resilience—reads like a polished lie, a gilded token offered to appease Western scrutiny while the real equation—how to muster enough soldiers without breaking the social order—remains stubbornly unchanged. In short, a grand display of policy as performative sentiment, dressed up as mercy, while the underlying logic of national defense politely refuses to step aside.