From August 2025, according to new changes approved by the Government of Ukraine by amending the procedure for crossing the state border, travel abroad is allowed for all men aged 18 to 22 years inclusive (until they reach the age of 23) on the basis of the updated rules for crossing the state border by the Government . According to the explanations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Border Service of Ukraine , to cross the border you must have:
- International passport.
- Military registration document (in paper or electronic form, for example, in the “Reserve+” application ).
However, already in May 2026, statements began to be made about the need to introduce another requirement so that persons aged 18 to 23 could freely travel abroad during the period of martial law in Ukraine, which we will discuss in detail later in this material.
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New requirement for border crossing by men aged 18-22
A new requirement that may become mandatory for men under 23 years of age to cross the border is a positive mark on passing Basic Combined Military Training (BCM), said Ruslan Gorbenko, a member of the Servant of the People party, in an interview with the media.
The explanation for the need to introduce another additional requirement to the border crossing rules for men aged 18-22 is the possibility of recruiters identifying those who want to work in Poland during the courses. Quote: “ It’s not for a thousand euros to work in Poland .”
Because according to a deputy from the SN, as part of the upcoming Army Reform 2026 announced by the President of Ukraine, recruits will be able to, quote: “ earn big money by operating NRCs and drones .”
What is BZVP in detail?
The BZVP is a training course for all conscripts until they reach the age of 25, replacing the previous one-year service in the army. The BZVP course lasts only 51 days , unlike the one-year service in the army, and the main goal of the course is to teach recruits basic survival and combat skills.
In total, the 51 days of training will consist of:
42 days — direct training (theory and practice).
7 days — weekends.
2 days — solving administrative issues.
The financial support during training for recruits is fixed at approximately UAH 20,130 per month (the amount may vary depending on the year, rank, and position).
Curriculum : Includes fire training, tactical training, tactical medicine, engineering training, and psychological adaptation.
Read also: Lowering the mobilization age to 23 years: what to expect in 2026?
Result
There is no real reason for panic yet, as this is just a personal opinion in a comment to the media by one of the deputies of the Servants of the People party. There are currently no real documents in the public domain, including draft laws or resolutions that would include a clause on the introduction of the additional requirement for persons under 23 years of age to have completed the BZVP, mentioned by the deputy, either on the website of the Verkhovna Rada or in the draft decisions of the Government .
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