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The European Union has officially extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2028. The decision was finally approved by the Council of the EU on July 30.
"Extending protection for another year will provide greater certainty and predictability for all those forced to flee the war," the Council of the EU said in a statement.
At the same time, the rules for granting temporary protection to newly arriving Ukrainians will change. In particular, the protection scheme will not apply to men of military service age who cannot demonstrate that they are legally entitled to leave Ukraine. However, Ukrainian men of military age who have already been granted temporary protection will continue to have their status extended.
According to the Council of the EU, Ukrainians seeking to leave Ukraine will have to provide proof that they have fulfilled the applicable military service requirements. This can be demonstrated by a relevant stamp in their passport confirming that their departure is legal, or by providing a paper or electronic document.
Earlier, it was reported that 75% of Ukrainians planned to stay in Poland for the long term. As of spring 2026, approximately 4.33–4.37 million Ukrainian citizens were under temporary protection across EU countries.
