**Ukraine Drafts Bill to Allow Male Students to Travel Freely**
The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, is working on a bill that would allow male students studying abroad to enter and leave the country without restrictions. This change in legislation applies only to full-time students.
According to Ruslan Horbenko, deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada’s committee on human rights, the aim of the bill is to strengthen ties between young Ukrainians living abroad and their homeland.
**Current Restrictions**
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, martial law has been in place. This means that most male citizens aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country without a permit. The proposed bill would exempt full-time students from this rule.
Once inside Ukraine, most male students currently cannot leave again. The new bill aims to change this situation and allow them to enter and exit the country freely.
**Background**
U.S. lawmakers have recently called for lowering the mobilization age in Ukraine from 25 to 18. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine will not use young soldiers to make up for its military equipment and training gaps.
**Related Developments**
In other news, Ukraine’s National Securities and Stock Market Commission announced a ban on withdrawing foreign issuer securities starting January 1st.