Ukrainian men will have a new opportunity to travel abroad

In Ukraine, another opportunity for men of conscription age to travel abroad is opening up. The existing system through the “Shlyakh” program will be expanded.

During a recent meeting of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, they approved changes to the rules of crossing the state border for drivers of cargo and passenger vehicles who undertake long journeys. According to these changes, two drivers can now be registered for each truck, and three for each bus. Currently, the quotas are smaller, allowing only one driver per truck and two for a passenger bus.

The initiative for these changes came from the Ministry of Infrastructure.

“There are mandatory international requirements that determine the necessary number of drivers depending on the duration and distance of the route. This is not only about the driver’s rest needs and compliance with labor standards but also about safety, both for the driver and the passengers. If these standards are violated, it can lead to penalties from authorities both in Ukraine and abroad,” stated the Ministry of Infrastructure.

The new resolution will come into effect in the coming days following official publication.

Transport companies have long been requesting permission to register more drivers for outbound trips. A recent industry meeting at the Ministry of Infrastructure saw various stakeholders address these concerns. According to Igor Zhitinskiy, the head of the All-Ukrainian Association of Passenger Carriers, the participants “heard each other,” leading to the new Cabinet resolution.

There have always been regulations regarding the number of drivers, but many carriers did not adhere to them in the past. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic when borders with the EU were effectively closed to most Ukrainians, drivers often registered a “second driver” for their trucks to make trips to Europe. This service cost around 300 euros. The additional driver would accompany them only until entering the EU, and then they would continue their journey independently.

Now, this scheme might see a resurgence, but under different conditions and at a different cost. The “Shlyakh” system for outbound travel is currently operational, with a cost of approximately $5,000 to $6,000. However, the system is closely monitored, and the authorities occasionally tighten the rules, revoking the right to register drivers and volunteers for the “Shlyakh” program for the most “suspicious” companies.

With the new Cabinet resolution, carriers have a significantly broader field of action.

“I have one driver working, and I can book another one and send him as the ‘second driver.’ After crossing the border, nobody will check how many people are in the cabin. In theory, this is monitored in Europe, but until the introduction of these changes, I traveled with just one driver, and we didn’t face any fines. So, the ‘second driver’ can easily travel abroad and stay there for some time or even permanently,” explained one of the carriers.

At the same time, this scheme is not expected to be widely used for selling opportunities to draft dodgers who want to leave the country. This is because, unlike many volunteer and charitable organizations, selling opportunities for draft dodgers to leave the country is not the primary business of transport companies. Their main business is transportation, and there is a real risk of losing all permissions for outbound travel through “Shlyakh” if there are too many “non-returnees.”

“No one will take such a risk. So, if anyone is selling something, it will only be the opportunity for temporary travel with an obligation to return to Ukraine,” said a carrier.