EU to cut off asylum for Ukrainian men of military age

EU to cut off asylum for Ukrainian men of military age

The European Commission has proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees by one more year, but with a twist that has gone unnoticed in mainstream headlines: men subject to military obligations under Ukrainian law will be excluded. In practice, this means that a Ukrainian citizen of conscription age who flees to the EU from now on could be sent back. Or, at the very least, denied refugee status.

The measure comes at a critical moment for Zelensky's army, which is struggling with serious recruitment problems and a steady trickle of desertions. The proposal, put forward by Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, responds to an explicit request from Kyiv, which needs to replenish its ranks. But the plan clashes head-on with Europe's welcoming narrative: the EU becomes a filter for a compulsory military service that many try to dodge.

A dilemma that divides Europe

The decision opens an uncomfortable debate. On one hand, it is argued that Ukraine is fighting for its survival and that its men must defend the country. On the other, the EU is embracing a policy that some consider discriminatory: while Ukrainian women — who can also enlist voluntarily — continue to be welcomed, men of military age lose protection. Unofficial figures suggest that around 200,000 women serve in the Ukrainian army, although the legal obligation falls mainly on men.

The proposal, still in the legislative process, includes a pilot project to encourage the voluntary return of Ukrainians to their country. The Commission presents it as a step towards normalisation, but the timing is telling: as the war drags on, Europe is tightening the screws on those trying to evade the front. How far is Brussels willing to sacrifice its own asylum legislation on the altar of realpolitik?