President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking a mechanism to repatriate Ukrainian men of mobilization age currently residing in European countries, particularly Germany [1].
This effort reflects a critical push to bolster Ukraine's defense forces as the conflict continues. The move targets a specific demographic of the refugee population to address manpower shortages in the military.
Zelenskyy said the return of these men is a "question of national security" [1]. The German government is reportedly drafting a mechanism to facilitate this process, following a strategic partnership announcement made on April 14, 2024 [1, 2].
However, the legal ability to force these returns remains a point of contention. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs said the deportation of Ukrainian men from Germany and other European Union countries is only possible by a decision of the competent authorities of those states, not by Ukraine [3].
The scale of the displaced population remains significant. As of February 2026, there were 4.4 million Ukrainians under temporary protection in the EU [4]. The highest concentration of these individuals is located in Germany [4].
While the Ukrainian presidency pushes for these mechanisms, the host nations maintain sovereignty over who remains on their soil. This creates a diplomatic tension between Ukraine's urgent need for soldiers and the legal protections afforded to refugees under EU law.
“"Зеленський хоче повернути чоловіків мобілізаційного віку з‑за кордону, бо це – питання національної безпеки."”
This initiative highlights the growing tension between Ukraine's domestic mobilization needs and the legal frameworks of the EU's temporary protection directive. While Germany may be drafting a mechanism to assist, the legal reality is that EU member states hold the final authority over deportation. If these nations refuse to forcibly return men, Ukraine may have to rely on diplomatic pressure or voluntary incentives to replenish its ranks.
