Key facts
- Ukraine has asked the EU to exclude military-aged men from temporary protection measures.
- Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have fled abroad to avoid conscription since 2022.
- Up to 1 million Ukrainian men of fighting age are living under temporary protection in the EU.
- The EU's temporary protection scheme for Ukrainians is set to expire in March 2027.
- The European Commission will present proposals on potential changes in the coming weeks.
- Ukraine has barred men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country since 2022, with some recent relaxations.
Ukraine has formally requested that the European Union exclude military-aged Ukrainian men from the bloc's temporary protection measures, according to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner. This move comes as Kiev faces mounting manpower shortages and seeks to replenish its troop numbers for the ongoing conflict with Russia. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian men have fled abroad to avoid conscription since the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
As of spring 2026, approximately 4.33 million Ukrainians were residing under temporary protection within the EU, with Eurostat data indicating that up to 1 million of these are men of fighting age. The issue was raised during discussions about extending the temporary protection scheme beyond its current expiration date of March 2027, with most member states reportedly favoring an extension until 2028. Brunner confirmed that excluding military-aged men is an option under consideration, aligning with Ukraine's stated desire for such individuals to return.
The European Commission is expected to present proposals regarding these potential changes in the coming weeks, though any alterations would require unanimous approval from all EU member states. Ukraine has consistently expressed its wish for military-aged individuals to return from abroad, having implemented a general mobilization shortly after the conflict's escalation that bars men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Statistics show that around a quarter of Ukrainians under temporary protection in the EU are men between 18 and 64 years old. The country has relied on mandatory mobilization to fill its military ranks due to troop shortages, desertions, and draft dodging, with controversial 'bussification' campaigns occurring nationwide. Several EU member states, including Poland, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, have recently moved to restrict social benefits for Ukrainian migrants.