The Council of the European Union has officially extended temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens by one year, until March 4, 2028, while adding a new requirement for men to prove they have fulfilled their military obligations. The decision was published in the European Union's official journal.
The Council said the extension was needed because the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine still does not allow most Ukrainians to safely return home. About 4.4 million Ukrainians currently benefit from temporary protection in the EU, according to the document.
New requirement for military service proof
Under the new rule, EU member states must require Ukrainians who apply for temporary protection after the decision takes effect to provide proof that they have fulfilled their military duties in Ukraine. The document states that, without prejudice to EU law and fundamental rights, temporary protection will be granted only to those fulfilling their military obligations in Ukraine, after presenting evidence of this where possible.
The Council named an electronic document from the Reserve+ app, or another official document, as an example of acceptable proof. The requirement does not apply to Ukrainians who already received temporary protection before July 30, 2026, and have held that status continuously since.
This marks the first time the Council has linked temporary protection for new applicants to the fulfillment of military duties in Ukraine, described as a political signal of EU support for Ukraine on the issue of mobilization.
When the new rules take effect
The decision takes effect on August 5. New applicants must meet the military service proof requirement from that date, while the extended period of temporary protection itself will begin on March 5, 2027, when the current protection period ends.
On June 18, Spiegel reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had proposed extending the temporary protection mechanism in a letter to EU leaders, while limiting its application so it would not undermine Ukraine's defense capability. The letter reportedly raised the possibility of restricting access to temporary protection for new male applicants of conscription age.
On June 25, Denmark said Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 who are not exempt from military service would no longer be able to obtain residence permits in the country.
