EU now hosting 4.4m Ukrainian refugees, but fighting-age men to face restrictions

New Eurostat data released on Tuesday (11 August) found that 24,380 more Ukrainians sought temporary protection in Europe in the month of June, bringing the total to 4.41 million refugees, as the EU begins limiting who is allowed to stay. The EU’s temporary protection scheme offered a swift response to those fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and it has since been renewed year on year. In its most recent extension, in July, until 2028, Brussels shifted its stance to collaborate with Ukraine’s need for boots on the ground. New requests for temporary protection for those qualifying for military service will be rejected, with a starting date for the measure envisioned for March 2027. Before the war, Ukrainians represented the third biggest group of non-EU citizens residing in the bloc behind Moroccans and Turks, with 1.57 million Ukrainians legally living in the EU in 2021. But that number has almost trebled, and a steady growth of applicants is expected to keep the figure high, in light of the decision to reverse universal temporary protection for all Ukrainians. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login