More than 265,000 Ukrainian men of fighting age are currently living in Germany, and their legal status could soon change. A European Commission proposal, supported by Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, would allow EU member states to withdraw automatic temporary protection for Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 if the Ukrainian government requests it. The measure is part of a broader discussion between Berlin and Kyiv about how to encourage these men to return home and contribute to the war effort.
Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, confirmed in an interview with the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform that the two governments are exploring mechanisms to facilitate the return of conscription-age men. When asked about possible deportations of those who left Ukraine illegally, Makeiev said: "I am not going to reveal these mechanisms yet."
According to Germany's Central Register of Foreign Nationals, over 1.3 million Ukrainians reside in Germany, the vast majority under temporary protection. Data from the Interior Ministry, obtained by the German Press Agency (dpa), shows that as of 31 May this year, 265,804 of them were men aged between 23 and 60. Across the European Union, the figure is estimated at around 1.15 million.
One Man's Journey: From Crimea to Canada
Vlad (a pseudonym), now 26, fled Kyiv on the morning of 24 February 2022, as the first bombs fell. Originally from Crimea, he had already fled Russia once before. He packed a backpack with a laptop, a charging cable, and a few clothes, and headed to the railway station. Hours into his journey west, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, barring most men of military age from leaving Ukraine without official permission. The train stopped, and men were ordered off. Vlad stayed in his seat, enduring shouts of "shame" from some women. At the border, he was turned back.
Vlad has Tourette's syndrome, which worsened dramatically under the strain of war. "I couldn't even drink hot drinks anymore because my tics made me spill them over myself. I kept burning myself," he recalled. With help from a humanitarian organisation, a doctor declared him medically unfit for service. After weeks of waiting, he finally crossed into Germany. But Berlin felt too close to the conflict, so he moved on to Canada, where he now lives.
Asylum Claims: No Automatic Protection
Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) told Euronews that any changes to the temporary protection regime would not affect individual asylum claims. Spokesperson Christoph Sander explained that each application is assessed on its own merits under the Geneva Refugee Convention and the EU Qualification Directive. "No one is granted protection automatically," he said. "That also applies to deserters and conscientious objectors who refuse to take part in the war."
Sander added that a person may have a well-founded fear of persecution if they refuse to participate in an armed conflict that breaches international law. In such cases, protection could be recognised on grounds of political opinion or membership of a particular social group, such as deserters. However, the BAMF declined to say whether it considers those criteria met for Ukrainian conscientious objectors.
The debate over temporary protection comes amid broader European security concerns. At the recent NATO Summit in Ankara, record European defence spending failed to secure concrete US security guarantees, underscoring the continent's reliance on its own military readiness.
Political Pressure from Berlin
In November last year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) called for Ukrainian men to remain in Ukraine. After a phone call with President Zelenskyy, Merz said he had asked him "to ensure that these young men stay in the country, because they are needed in the country and not in Germany. We need everyone who can roll up their sleeves and help, including serving in the Ukrainian military." Senior figures within Merz's own party have also argued that Ukrainian men of military age should no longer be eligible for temporary protection in Germany.
The proposal has sparked debate across the EU. While some member states support the move as a way to bolster Ukraine's defences, others worry about the humanitarian implications of forcing men back into a war zone. For now, the European Commission's proposal remains under discussion, and any changes would require a formal request from Kyiv.
