EU extends temporary protection for Ukrainians but restricts access for military-age men

Key Points:

• EU ambassadors agreed to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war until March 4, 2028, but men aged 23 to 60 will be excluded from the scheme starting March 2027 unless they have fulfilled military obligations in Ukraine.
• To qualify for refugee-like status, Ukrainians must prove legal departure from Ukraine with a passport exit stamp or military service exemption document, aligning with Ukraine’s martial law that restricts men of military age from leaving.
• Exemptions to military service include people with disabilities, fathers of three or more children under 18, and full-time caregivers of sick relatives, though some men of draft age have crossed borders illegally and obtained temporary protection.
• Existing beneficiaries of temporary protection in the EU will not be affected by the new rules, which will be formally adopted by EU countries in the coming weeks.
• Since its establishment after Russia’s 2022 invasion, the scheme has allowed 4.38 million Ukrainians to reside, work, and access services in the EU, while Denmark maintains a similar system despite opting out of the EU migration policy.