Europe plans to restrict admission of Ukrainian men
Several European countries have already announced plans to restrict the admission of Ukrainian men. In Denmark, a relevant bill has been submitted to parliament. Poland, Switzerland, and other states are currently discussing changes they intend to introduce to temporary protection rules.
Denmark: bill already in parliament
On June 25, Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration Morten Bødskov submitted a bill to parliament amending the special law on protection for Ukrainians. The document stipulates that Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 will only be eligible for residence permits in Denmark if they provide documents confirming exemption from military service. For Ukrainians under 23, residence permits will be issued only until they reach that age.
If the bill is adopted, the new rules will apply to applications submitted from June 25, 2026. Ukrainians who have already received residence permits or submitted applications before that date will retain their right to stay in the country and will be able to extend their permits under the previous conditions.
Poland against regional restrictions
Polish Deputy Minister of the Interior Maciej Duszczyk stated that the country supports limiting access to temporary protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age. At the same time, Warsaw opposes proposals to restrict protection based on regions of Ukraine, arguing that such criteria are not applicable due to strikes across the entire territory of the country.
Earlier, Poland tightened rules for refugees from Ukraine. Since autumn 2025, part of the financial support has depended on employment status. In March 2026, certain benefits previously available to Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the war were abolished.
Since 2022, the country has received more than 1 million Ukrainians, and over 960,000 people are currently under temporary protection. Across the EU, about 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens hold this status. The largest group is in Germany — around 1.2 million. Since April 2025, newly arrived Ukrainians have lost access to basic unemployment benefits (Bürgergeld) and receive lower payments under the asylum seeker support system.
Switzerland considers adjustments to protection for Ukrainians
The Swiss Federal Council has begun consultations on the future of the S protection status for Ukrainians after March 2027. Authorities believe that, due to the lack of prospects for a sustainable ceasefire, temporary protection will likely need to be extended.
At the same time, the government is considering limiting the granting of S status to Ukrainian men subject to conscription rules. Such a step would require amendments to the current decision on temporary protection. The Federal Council plans to make a final decision on extending S status and possible restrictions for conscription-age men by the end of summer 2026.
Switzerland is coordinating its policy with the European Union, which is also discussing a possible extension of the temporary protection regime with restrictions for men subject to military service. Authorities note that this is necessary to prevent secondary migration between European countries.
European Commission supports changes for Ukrainian men
The current temporary protection mechanism, introduced in 2022, provides collective protection without individual assessment. In early June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU leaders proposing changes to the temporary protection regime for Ukrainians, which is currently set to run until March 4, 2027. She announced plans to present a proposal to extend the directive on mass influx protection, but with a possible narrowing of its scope — in particular regarding individuals who may be subject to conscription.
Representatives of Germany, Austria, and Sweden believe the mechanism should be extended, but automatic protection for men of conscription age needs to be reconsidered. Among the arguments are the growing number of applications from this group and the need to take into account Ukraine’s military manpower needs.
Manpower shortages in the Ukrainian army are seen as one of the arguments for revising temporary protection rules. In 2024, Ukraine lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 and strengthened mobilization measures. Since August 2025, men aged 18–22 have been allowed to leave the country, after which around 100,000 of them have left Ukraine.