More than 10,000 young Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 22 crossed into Poland within a week after Kyiv relaxed border restrictions, Polish authorities said, in a surge that has raised fresh questions over public support for the war against Russia.
This represents a tenfold increase and reflects concerns among Ukrainians about forced conscription as fighting with Russia drags on. Families have been encouraging sons to leave the country, fearing forced conscription into an army stretched thin across a largely static front line.
What Kyiv presented as an opportunity for education or temporary work abroad has quickly become a lifeline for those determined not to be dragged to the trenches. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the change was intended to “maintain ties” with young people, but the rapid rush for the exit suggests that avoiding military action is a key factor.
For Poland, this new influx comes at a sensitive moment. Youth unemployment has risen to 13.5% percent, while public opinion has grown weary of supporting the nearly two million Ukrainians who have already settled in the country since the Russian invasion. Initial hospitality has given way to debates over welfare costs, labour competition, and unresolved historical grievances.
The situation will also likely create a headache for businesses inside Ukraine. Tens of thousands of young men’s departures translate into a shrinking workforce, making it even harder to sustain an economy battered by shelling, blackouts, and uncertainty. Employers warn of labour shortages, while rural areas face depopulation as the youngest seek safety and opportunity abroad.
Meanwhile, the stalemate at the front continues. Neither Kyiv nor Moscow appears ready to make concessions for peace, yet neither can secure a decisive victory. The consequence is a prolonged war with no end in sight.
