Ukrainian students complain that they are unable to study abroad

Ukrainian student Andriy Lysoviy has complained that due to the ban on the exit of men from Ukraine, he cannot travel to Denmark for education under the Erasmus exchange program.

He posted this information on his Facebook page.

“I’m holding two invitations from the University of Copenhagen for exchange studies under the Erasmus program for six months. One for the year 2022 and the other, whose original version with a signature was brought to me from Copenhagen. My Learning Agreement, signed between me, Kyiv National University, and the University of Copenhagen, is attached to the invitation with a paperclip. This LA outlines the subjects I could study during those six months with the support of European Union grant funds: these could be courses on Danish Culture and Cross-Cultural Aspects and Contexts of Danish Society in 2022, and Sustainable Development of Denmark in the World, Nature, Humanity, Global Perspectives in Modern Spirituality and Esotericism in this year. But I am a powerless male student who should be grateful for being alive (though even expressing gratitude for that fact can get one condemned). A student who has an official deferment from mobilization according to the current legislation for the entire period of undergraduate education (until June 2024). A student who has been officially working and paying taxes since the first year of study. A student holding in his hands his last chance to gain international study experience during his undergraduate studies (as it is already prohibited from the 2nd semester of the 4th year),” wrote Andriy Lysoviy.

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, there has been confusion regarding the departure of male students from Ukraine. According to Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On Mobilization Training and Mobilization,” in particular, conscripted recipients of higher education, graduate and doctoral students studying in full-time and dual forms of education, are not subject to military service during mobilization. However, they are unable to travel abroad for education due to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 57 of January 27, 1995, which does not provide for such students’ right to leave Ukraine during a state of war.

At the same time, in March and April, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine published explanations that allowed men studying abroad to leave the country. As noted on the website of the Ministry for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, this issue was resolved through the initiative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny. “Draft boards received instructions to provide deferments and permission to cross the border to students in foreign universities.” These students need to have documents from the territorial draft board confirming this permission. However, on September 14, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine banned all students from leaving the country.