Why Ukrainian men living abroad are considering returning to fight

The Ukrainian government’s decision to ban men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country has sparked controversy and mixed reactions from both domestic and international sources.

Dmytro Lazutkin, the press secretary of the Ukrainian ministry of defence, stated that there were no plans to issue conscription notices overseas, despite the restrictions on male citizens leaving the country. This move has drawn criticism from some of Ukraine’s allies, with Poland’s defence minister emphasizing that Ukrainian citizens have obligations towards the state.

Meanwhile, German authorities have announced that Ukrainian men will be able to extend their residency in the country even if their passports expire, as long as there is a way to identify them. This gesture aims to provide some relief to Ukrainian men living abroad who may be affected by the travel restrictions.

The European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, reports that 4.3 million Ukrainians are living in EU countries, with 860,000 of them being men over 18 years old. The British government has issued over 256,200 visas under its scheme for Ukrainian refugees, although it is unclear how many of them are fighting-age men.

Many Ukrainian men living abroad have expressed their discontent with the new law, deeming it unfair and unjust. Some have even stated that they have no intention of returning to fight, citing the destruction caused by Russia and feeling abandoned by their own country.

As tensions continue to rise and more laws are enacted, the Ukrainian government may face increasing backlash from its citizens living abroad, potentially leading to a further divide between the diaspora and the homeland.