EU ENDS PROTECTION FOR MILITARY-AGE UKRAINIAN MEN

BRUSSELS, JUNE 27 /SRNA/ – The European Commission has proposed excluding military-age Ukrainian men from the temporary protection regime the EU provides to refugees, while extending the protection for all other Ukrainian refugees by another year, Russia Today reported.

The measure proposed by the Commission would apply only to new arrivals, while military-age Ukrainian men already in the EU would remain covered by the temporary protection regime.

In a statement, the European Commission said it was asking member states to support extending the temporary protection regime until March 2028. The regime grants Ukrainian refugees residence permits, the right to work, access to healthcare, social benefits and education.

It was noted that temporary protection would not be granted to new arrivals whom the Ukrainian authorities had not authorized to leave the country because of their military obligations.

As explained, the proposal further demonstrates unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Kyiv declared general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, banning almost all men subject to military service from leaving the country. Nevertheless, many of them managed to leave Ukraine.

According to European Union data, adult men currently account for about 27 percent of all Ukrainian nationals benefiting from temporary protection in the EU.