EU extends Ukrainian refugee protection to 2028, new rule bars military‑age men

EU member‑state ambassadors agreed on 15 July 2026 to prolong the bloc’s temporary protection scheme for Ukrainians fleeing the war until 4 March 2028. The extension safeguards the rights of the roughly 4.4 million current beneficiaries – the right to reside, work, receive health care and education – and will not affect them.

For any new applicant, the EU will require proof of compliance with Ukraine’s military obligations. Men of draft age (roughly 23‑60 years) who have not been exempted or who have not fulfilled service will be excluded from the scheme. Applicants must present an exit‑stamp passport or a document confirming exemption or service completion. The change was requested by Kyiv to help meet its defence needs. Poland has voiced strong support for the tighter rules, while the EU Commission’s migration chief Magnus Brunner highlighted that temporary protection “is not to be granted as a rule to persons who are not authorized by Ukrainian authorities to leave in view of their military obligations.”