Thousands who fled to avoid conscription now fall under EU temporary protection measures set to expire in 2027, according to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner. Ukraine has formally requested that military-aged Ukrainian men be excluded from these protections, a move aimed at addressing chronic manpower shortages within its armed forces.
Eurostat data reveals that as of spring 2026, 4.33 million Ukrainians were living under temporary protection in the EU, including an estimated one million men of fighting age. This figure reflects tens of thousands who have fled abroad since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022.
The issue emerged during recent discussions among EU member states about extending the current protection scheme beyond its March 2027 expiration date. Most nations reportedly support prolonging the program until 2028. Brunner confirmed Ukraine’s request for exclusion of military-aged men from protections is “also what the Ukrainians are asking us to do.” The European Commission plans to present formal proposals in the coming weeks, though approval requires consensus across all EU states.
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly called for individuals of military age to be returned from abroad. Following a 2022 mobilization order that barred men aged 18–60 from leaving, Ukraine recently relaxed restrictions to permit men aged 18–22 to cross borders. Approximately one quarter of Ukrainians under EU protection are men aged 18–64.
Amid persistent troop shortages, mass desertions, and widespread draft dodging, Ukraine has relied on mandatory—often forced—mobilization tactics. The nationwide “bussification” campaign, which involves military officers ambushing citizens on streets, workplaces, and homes to recruit men, has frequently resulted in violent confrontations and public outrage. These practices have further strained the Ukrainian military’s capacity while undermining its operational effectiveness.
Several EU nations, including Poland, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, have recently tightened social support programs for Ukrainian migrants, signaling growing friction over Ukraine’s domestic mobilization efforts. Moscow has accused Western allies of conducting a “proxy war” against Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
