Procedure for obtaining permits for artists to cross border works well – Berezhna
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna has said that she believes that the procedure for obtaining permits for crossing the border by artists subject to military service is working well, and work is currently underway to introduce mandatory reporting upon the return of such individuals.
"The reform of this mechanism took place at the beginning of 2025, when the state defined a clear procedure, as well as who can leave and who cannot. Now regional administrations are involved in the decision-making process: they check whether all necessary documents have been submitted. We at the Ministry of Culture are looking into whether this person will really properly represent Ukrainian culture abroad. This process is currently working well," Berezhna said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, answering the question of whether there is a need to change the mechanisms or rules for artists subject to military service to travel abroad.
According to her, work is currently underway on another decision, which will concern mandatory reporting upon the return of such individuals to Ukraine.
"Although we receive this information from auxiliary services and draw certain conclusions. In particular, if we receive information that someone has not returned from a certain collective or group, we are working to reduce the recurrence of such cases," she added.
When asked whether the general statistics on the number of violators have changed over the year, the vice-premier noted that there are no specific statistics, but it has become much better.
"There are exceptional cases when someone does not return and we receive a warning message from the Security Service, but this happens less and less. That is, the procedures are set up to avoid such violations," Berezhna said.
As reported, the Ministry of Culture sent 3,724 letters to the State Border Service regarding assistance in temporary travel abroad in 2023. At the same time, the department stated that it does not keep track of violators of the return conditions, but the then acting. o. Minister of Culture Rostyslav Karandeev stated that less than 1% of cultural figures from those who were issued a permit to leave do not return from abroad.
In 2024, the Ministry of Culture applied to the State Border Guard Service 2,744 times with a request to cross the border as military conscripts. During this year, 579 men did not return from abroad.
In October 2024, the then Minister of Culture Mykola Tochytsky stated that every 5th cultural figure from those who travel abroad with permission from the Ministry of Culture does not return.
In March 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers legalized letters of assistance for border crossing from the Ministry of Culture to the State Border Guard Service, and also determined the procedure for border crossing for citizens related to strategic communications, media, cultural and information spheres.
In 2025, the Ministry of Culture petitioned the State Border Service 1,337 times regarding the crossing of the border by military personnel from the sphere of culture and media.
