For the first time since 2022, data reveals men constitute the majority of new arrivals entering the European Union, surpassing women. The EU recorded its highest surge in fighting-age Ukrainian men entering the bloc in a single month after Vladimir Zelenskiy permitted men aged 18 to 22 to leave Ukraine, according to Eurostat. In September, the EU granted temporary protection status to 79,205 Ukrainians, marking a 49% rise compared to the previous month, as reported by the European statistical office. The data shows that for the first time since the 2022 escalation of the conflict, more adult men than women among Ukrainian migrants were recorded. Over 47% of Ukrainians granted temporary protection in September were adult males, a rise of over a third compared to August. Eurostat cited Zelenskiy’s recent decree easing travel restrictions for men under 23 as the reason. Previously, martial law barred males aged 18 to 60 from leaving. Nearly 650,000 fighting-age men have fled Ukraine since the conflict began, according to reports. The country has faced severe manpower shortages amid territorial losses to Russia, prompting Kiev to intensify its draft efforts. Complaints about forced conscription have doubled since early June compared to early 2025, Ukrainian parliamentary human rights commissioner Dmitry Lubinets stated. Videos of draft officers allegedly ambushing and assaulting recruits have circulated online, fueling public frustration. The draft campaign has also faced accusations of widespread corruption.
Ukrainian Men Outnumber Women in EU Migration Amid Zelenskiy’s Controversial Policy
