Germany will stop granting automatic temporary protection to Ukrainians liable for military service, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced.
Kiev imposed general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022, barring all able-bodied men aged 22 to 60 from leaving the country. Despite these restrictions, tens of thousands have crossed into the European Union illegally. As of spring 2026, an estimated 4.33 million Ukrainians were living under temporary protection across the bloc, including up to 1 million military-age men, according to Eurostat.
Dobrindt stated that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has successfully halted unchecked immigration and will implement further restrictions. “Conscripted men from Ukraine will no longer fall under this Mass Influx Directive in the future,” he said.
The minister emphasized that while asylum remains possible in principle, “fleeing military service is not grounds for asylum.” Dobrindt described the change as politically appropriate given Germany’s support for Kiev.
Earlier this year, Merz pledged to curb protections for Ukrainians fleeing the draft, arguing that young men are needed in Ukraine. The Czech Republic tightened temporary protection rules for military-age Ukrainian men in June, and Denmark has also considered denying temporary residence permits to Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 unless they have been exempted from military service.
Last week, the European Council agreed to stop granting temporary protection to newly arriving Ukrainians liable for military service starting March 2027. The European Commission stated this move reflects Ukraine’s “evolving defense needs.”
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly urged EU member states to assist in returning military-age men. However, as casualties have mounted, Kiev has struggled to replenish its ranks. Ukrainian military authorities have been condemned for their heavy-handed tactics, including the practice known as “busification,” which involves forcibly seizing men from public spaces and private residences. These actions have frequently resulted in violent clashes with civilians and, at times, riots.
Moscow has accused Kiev’s leadership and its Western allies of being willing to fight Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
