Interior Ministry says idea of banning males from crossing out of Ukraine after war-end ex-advisor’s personal opinion

The Ministry of Internal Affairs went public to distance itself from the former advisor to the minister, Vadym Denysenko, whose recent comment on the need to bar male Ukrainians from crossing out of Ukraine at least for three years after the war ends sparked outrage across social media.

The ministry’s press service took to Telegram to post its commentary, Ukrinform reports.

"In response to numerous inquiries from journalists, I am officially informing you that Vadym Denysenko is not an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs," said the spokeswoman of the Ministry, Maryana Reva.

The spokesperson noted that Denysenko's statement is his personal opinion not reflecting the one of the ministry.

Denysenko, who now heads a private think tank, the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, on August 6 posted a Facebook entry, in which he expressed the opinion that after the end of the war, the ban on Ukrainian men traveling abroad should be extended for at least another three years.

As reported, one of the National Academy of Sciences’ research institutes believes that among factors that can potentially contribute to the displaced Ukrainians returning home are ties with Ukraine, security, accommodation, and jobs.