EU to change temporary protection rules for Ukrainians: a non-mobilization certificate will be required

In July, the European Commission will announce the most significant changes to the temporary protection directive for Ukrainian refugees since 2022. The new measures will affect both men and women. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita.

According to anonymous sources, only those Ukrainian citizens who present a special non-mobilization certificate issued by Ukrainian authorities will retain the right to temporary protection. The requirement will apply to both sexes.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of Poland Maciej Duszczyk confirmed that work on the changes is nearing completion and announced Warsaw’s support for the initiative.

“They will concern not those who already have temporary protection in EU countries, but those who would like to apply for it,” Duszczyk stressed.

Insiders claim that it was Kyiv that approached Brussels with a request to restrict the entry of Ukrainian citizens. Rzeczpospolita describes the move as unexpected, recalling that approximately a year earlier President Volodymyr Zelensky lifted the travel ban for young Ukrainians aged 18–22. In the three months following that decision, more than 121,000 Ukrainian men of that age group entered Poland from Ukraine, the majority of whom then traveled on to Germany.

According to Eurostat, 4.3 million Ukrainians are currently under temporary protection in EU countries. The highest numbers are recorded in Germany — 1.2 million people — and in Poland — 960,000 people.

RBC-Ukraine previously reported that EU countries had discussed the possible withdrawal of temporary protection from men of conscription age after 2027.