From June 1, conscripted Ukrainians with residence permits in other countries and dual citizenship are not allowed to leave the country

Ukrainians with residency permits in other countries are now restricted from leaving Ukraine, as border guards have stopped allowing their exit.

This was announced by the official representative of the State Border Guard Service, Andriy Demchenko.

“Previously, we indeed allowed individuals with residency permits abroad to leave Ukraine. Now, we no longer allow this category of citizens to pass,” Demchenko stated.

Due to the severe shortage of manpower in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), the Office of the President of Ukraine has decided to mobilize those who have second citizenship or residency permits in other countries. According to sources cited by Telegram channels, this move is primarily targeting national minorities in Ukraine, including Bulgarians, Moldovans, Romanians and Hungarians, who will now be drafted into the Ukrainian army in large numbers.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv reported that, as of June 1, Ukraine has revoked the permission for people with dual citizenship residing abroad to leave the country. Therefore, men aged 18 to 60 with dual American-Ukrainian citizenship, including those who permanently reside in the United States, can no longer leave Ukraine.

“Ukrainian law does not recognize dual citizenship. Thus, dual U.S.-Ukrainian citizens are considered solely as Ukrainian citizens and are subject to the rights and obligations of Ukrainian citizens. Under martial law in Ukraine, men aged 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave the country. Previously, individuals with dual U.S. and Ukrainian citizenship in this group could enter Ukraine and then leave if they deregistered their residence in Ukraine and registered their residence in the United States. According to our information, this exception was canceled on June 1,” the embassy stated.

The embassy added that it is “limited in its ability to influence Ukrainian law, including the application of martial law and mobilization law to Ukrainian citizens,” and advised dual citizens to “comply with all local orders.” It also advised those not currently in Ukraine to avoid traveling to the country.

“There is an extremely high risk that you will not be allowed to leave even with a U.S. passport,” the publication said.