EU moves to bar military-age Ukrainian men from new refugee protections
The European Commission plans to exclude Ukrainian men of military age from new refugee protections under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, while preserving protections for those already granted status. The proposal would apply to new applicants as the bloc reviews the protection scheme, which has sheltered millions since Russia’s invasion and must be renewed annually until 2027. Poland and Denmark have signaled support or moved ahead with similar limits to prevent mobilization evasion amid Ukraine's manpower shortages.
