On 26 February 2025, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture announced that as of March 3, male journalists as well as artists and other culture workers would no longer be able to use a system of exit permits which previously allowed them to leave the country for missions considered to be in Ukraine’s national interest.
In a statement, the Ministry claimed that over 500 male culture workers had used the opportunity to leave Ukraine but had not returned following the end of their assigned missions.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all men considered fit for military service are banned from exiting Ukraine, and may only do so after receiving a special permit, which is only delivered in specific circumstances.
The decision by the Ministry of Culture was condemned by participants of Ukraine’s MediaRukh media movement as a violation of the rights of male journalists.
UPDATE: On 4 March 2025, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture said it had adopted new, supposedly stricter rules on issuing exit permits to male culture workers, meaning that the delivery of permits would now resume.