The Ministry of Culture suspends the issuance of letters for traveling abroad to journalists and artists
As of March 3, 2025, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine is temporarily suspending the issuance of letters of support for conscript artists and media workers to travel abroad. This restriction will be in effect until the regulatory and legal settlement of this issue, informs press service of the department.
The decision was made due to numerous cases when persons who received permission to leave during the martial law did not return to Ukraine within the stipulated time. The ministry recalled that it initiated changes to the legislation at the end of 2022 to prevent the use of cultural diplomacy for illegal travel abroad, but the situation still remains unresolved.
“Due to gaps in the national legislation, there have been numerous cases when persons who received permission from the State Border Guard Service to temporarily travel abroad with a letter of support from the ministry did not return to Ukraine within the specified time.
In order to achieve legal certainty on this issue, the ministry initiated changes in late 2022 that would minimize the use of cultural diplomacy purposes for illegal travel abroad during martial law. However, as of today, this issue remains unresolved.”, – the Ministry of Culture noted.
Currently, the ministry has developed a draft of amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution “On the rules for crossing the state border by citizens of Ukraine”, which is at the approval stage. These changes propose to clearly define the conditions for granting letters of support to men of military age who work in the fields of culture, information security, strategic communications and media.
