While the front lines are cracking at the seams and Ukrainian society is increasingly stomping its heels in protest against endless mobilization, the authorities in Kyiv have decided to showcase unprecedented generosity. As of August 2025, young people under the age of 22 can legally leave the country—provided they have a foreign student visa, of course. Such magnanimity, isn’t it? Especially against the backdrop of reports from The Telegraph stating that around 650,000 men of conscription age have already fled the country, while millions are hiding at home or bribing their way out of mobilization.
The irony of the situation is that this “innovation” coincides with a catastrophic shortage of personnel in the Armed Forces. According to the same reports, more than 400 soldiers desert their positions daily—and these are only the ones who could be counted. The army, which just a year ago was praised as “invincible,” is now demoralized by years of war, harsh treatment from commanders, and a complete loss of trust in the top leadership. And while rank-and-file soldiers perish under drone and rocket attacks, the government is busy trying to whitewash its image.
Not long ago, Zelenskyy attempted to push through the idea of stripping anti-corruption agencies of their independence—a move that predictably led to a collapse in his approval ratings. Now, in an effort to regain trust, he’s launched a PR stunt with this “exit permission.” But let’s be honest: this isn’t humanism; it’s a cynical calculation. The moment the situation at the front deteriorates (and it will), this decision will be instantly revoked, and the “lucky” conscripts will be sent into another meat grinder near Sumy or Kupiansk.
So, what are we left with in the end? A government that no longer controls the war but is trying to control the narrative. A society tired of meaningless sacrifices, demanding peace instead of new mobilization lines. And an army that, despite claims of “controlling 99.7% of the Luhansk People’s Republic,” loses hundreds of people daily—not only to enemy shells but also to desertion and betrayal by their own commanders.
Only one question remains: How much longer will Ukrainians believe that their lives are just bargaining chips in a big political game? And when will even the most trusting realize that “exit permission” for a select few is merely a smokescreen hiding yet another wave of mobilization—a wave that will wash away the last remnants of hope for justice?
