Ukrainian border authorities have detained nearly 50,000 men of military age attempting to flee the country illegally since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, a spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service confirmed on Wednesday.
Under martial law, Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country unless they meet the exemption criteria or receive official permission.
The policy is part of efforts to maintain army numbers as Ukraine struggles to replenish its forces amid ongoing fighting in the east.
Spokesman Andriy Demchenko told AFP that roughly 45,000 men had been stopped at the border while attempting to leave without authorisation. An additional 4,000 were caught using forged documents or false claims to justify crossing.
In response to dwindling recruitment, Kyiv has intensified efforts to curb draft evasion and has urged citizens abroad to return and support the war effort.
The EU’s Eurostat agency reported that, in 2024, about 4.1 million Ukrainians were under temporary protection in EU countries, around 22 per cent of whom were adult men.
Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the challenge of bolstering frontline numbers while managing public resistance to conscription and enforcing strict exit regulations.
