Ukraine war: CDU wants to stop large influx of Ukrainian men

The CDU and CSU criticize the rapid increase in the number of Ukrainians fit for military service in Germany. Recently, up to 1,800 young men between the ages of 18 and 22 fled to Germany every week. In August there were only 19 per week.

“Ukrainian soldiers are needed to defend their country,” said CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann star. “That’s why it’s not right that many young men in particular are currently Ukraine “The massive refugee movement to Germany must be stopped: “We support Ukraine out of conviction – but the sudden influx to Germany must be stopped.”

CSU boss Markus Söder had previously made similar statements. Söder explained: “We need to keep the skyrocketing influx of young men from Ukraine and significantly reduce them.” Therefore, the EU and Berlin must influence Ukraine to change the relaxed exit regulations again, said Söder.

The background to the increase is the relaxation of a rule within Ukraine. Until now, the government had only allowed young, able-bodied men to leave the country in exceptional cases. Young people have been allowed since the end of August Men up to 22 years of age can “cross the border unhindered during a state of war,” as the government explained. Since then they have been fleeing in large numbers.

Refugees from Ukraine do not have to apply for asylum in the European Union because they are accepted under the so-called mass influx directive. You will receive citizen’s money immediately. That could change if it comes to that CSU-Boss Söder leaves. “If it is not voluntary, then the so-called mass influx directive must be restricted at EU level.”

This would mean that Ukrainian men, for example, would have to go through normal asylum procedures, similar to refugees from Syria or Afghanistan. You would also not have immediate access to citizen’s money. However, the EU only extended the mass influx directive in the summer until spring 2027.

The CDU also sees time pressure because in Poland, for example, the right of residence for Ukrainians has been tightened. In the future, they should only receive social benefits such as child benefit if they work and pay taxes in Poland. Security circles are therefore expecting further immigration to Germany.

Currently living around 1.26 million Ukrainians in Germany who have arrived since the beginning of the war. Around 500,000 of them are men. Only around a third of them work. In other EU countries the numbers are usually significantly higher, at 50 to 80 percent. Recently, however, the number in Germany has increased.