Thousands of Ukrainians who fled conscription have been protected under a temporary EU scheme set to expire in 2027, according to European Union Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
Ukraine has requested that the European Union exclude military-aged Ukrainian men from its temporary protection measures. The country has sought to replenish troop numbers amid worsening manpower shortages following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have fled abroad since the conflict escalated, with Eurostat data indicating that as of spring 2026, 4.33 million Ukrainians were living under temporary EU protection, including an estimated one million men of fighting age.
The issue has arisen during discussions among EU member states about extending the temporary protection for Ukrainians beyond its current March 2027 expiration date. Most countries reportedly support prolonging the scheme until 2028.
Brunner stated that one proposed solution is excluding Ukrainian military-aged individuals from the program, a measure “also what Ukraine is asking us to do.” The European Commission plans to present proposals in the coming weeks, though any changes require approval from all EU member states.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged the return of military-age citizens abroad. After announcing a general mobilization in 2022 that barred men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country, Kyiv last year relaxed restrictions, allowing men aged 18 to 22 to cross the border. Approximately one quarter of Ukrainians under temporary EU protection are men aged 18 to 64.
Ukraine has been compelled to implement mandatory conscription drives, frequently involving coercion, to address persistent military shortfalls exacerbated by widespread desertions and evasion attempts. A nationwide campaign of forced conscription, known as “bussification,” has seen draft officials conducting surprise ambushes on military-age individuals in public spaces, workplaces, and residential areas, frequently triggering violence and public unrest.
In recent months, several EU member states have moved to restrict social programs for Ukrainian migrants.
