Ukrainian sailors will be able to cross the border with the approval of the local military recruitment offices. The Cabinet of Ministers made the relevant decision at a meeting on 27 August.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced this on Saturday, the CFTS portal reports.
"Men who are crew members of sea and river vessels and continue to work on vessels, as well as students (cadets) of educational institutions who have to undergo practical training on vessels, will be allowed to travel abroad," Shmyhal said.
According to him, Ukraine is one of the world leaders in terms of the number of sailors. Therefore, such a decision "will provide employment to thousands of sailors and increase budget revenues."
Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov clarified that the government decision allows only certain categories of sailors to travel abroad.
"The decision applies to:
- cadets (students) who need to undergo practical training on ships;
- crews of vessels involved in the export of Ukrainian agricultural products during the implementation of the Initiative on Safe Transportation through the Black Sea;
- a certain category of sailors who work abroad, only with the agreement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Kubrakov wrote on Facebook.
According to the available information, sailors in the last category will be allowed to travel abroad with the approval of military recruitment offices if 12 months have not yet passed since the end of their previous contracts and they have been in Ukraine for more than five months.
