'Ignoring reality': Ukrainian serviceman on lifting border ban for young men
global.espreso.tv
Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:50:00 +0300

Ihor Lutsenko, Ukrainian serviceman and co‑founder of the Center for Aerial Reconnaissance Support, said this on Espreso TV."From the point of view of the availability of a resource that can fight at the front — human resources, Ukrainians who can go — this will, of course, most likely be a negative consequence. I don't know whether any sociological research was done in the statement, i.e., whether sociologists' opinions were asked, to what net balance we will ultimately come if we allow all these guys to leave. Well, it's clear that there will be an immediate effect on the front, yes, but in the future we will see that the more young people leave, the fewer of us will actually be fighting at the front. The fewer at our front, you can decide for yourself what will happen then," he said.Ihor Lutsenko also believes that such permission will negatively affect the moral and psychological state of the servicemen who are currently at the front."Unfortunately, in my view, this is a continuation of that systemic policy of ignoring reality by Ukraine — the fact that we will have a war for many, many years. And that we need to invest in human resources so that we actually have ways to fight and people to fight. But now the policy is such that those who are at the front will be the ones to bear the burden for everyone, while those who are not at the front receive additional contracts, travel privileges, and so on. So the moral and psychological state of those at the front will certainly not improve," the Ukrainian serviceman believes.Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved a resolution allowing men aged 18 to 22 inclusive to cross the state border; it will come into force tomorrow, August 28.
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