Ukrainian males aged 18-60 are banned from leaving the country, Zelensky says in new declaration

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has issued a general military mobilization order. In a statement signed late Thursday, Zelensky said that a broad-based mobilization had been ordered "in order to ensure the defense of the state, maintaining combat and mobilization readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations," including in the capital, Kyiv, and all of Ukraine's major cities.

The statement stated, "Mobilization shall be carried out within 90 days after the date of entrance into force of this Decree."

"During the universal mobilization," the mobilization also instructed, "the Security Service of Ukraine to adopt counterintelligence measures."

"Conscription of conscripts, reservists for military service, their delivery to military units and institutions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" and other state security services were ordered.

According to the State Border Guard Service, Ukraine has forbidden all male citizens aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country.

A temporary ban had been placed following the establishment of martial law in Ukraine, according to the statement.

"It is specifically banned for men aged 18-60, who are Ukrainian citizens, to leave Ukraine's borders," the statement read. "This regulation will be in effect for the duration of the martial law legal regime (Military personnel, not civilian leaders or police, are in charge of enforcing the law under martial law. When the rule of law has broken down during a war, it is generally invoked). We request that citizens take this information into account."

According to Ukraine's Minister of Healthcare, Viktor Lyashko, at least 57 people have died and 169 have been injured since Moscow launched the assault.

"We're going to stay at home." "We don't want to go," says Andrew, 24, who had only recently learnt of the Ukrainian men's travel prohibition. For security considerations, he did not reveal his complete identity.

"I can't leave right now because the recent update was that guys between the ages of 18 and 68... are not allowed to exit Ukraine's borders," he says. "We'll stay here until the Russians go home because staying in our homes is vital to us," he added. "We're going to stick with our government."

The "unprovoked and unjustified" invasion has prompted widespread condemnation of Russia. It was a "brutal act of war," according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Early Friday, President Joe Biden was scheduled to meet with NATO heads of state to resolve the problem.