Ukrainian asylum demands get increased in Germany

(MENAFN) Germany has seen a significant spike in asylum applications from Ukrainian nationals after Kiev relaxed travel restrictions for younger men, according to reports citing Germany’s Interior Ministry data.

The number of weekly asylum applications reportedly jumped from around 100 to nearly 1,000 after Ukraine allowed men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country legally. This exemption, introduced in late August, marked a major shift from the previous blanket travel ban on men aged 18 to 60, which was implemented after the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022.

A spokesperson for Germany’s Interior Ministry told local media that it was still unclear whether the rise represented a short-term fluctuation or the start of a broader trend.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klimenko described the policy as a chance for “education, internships, and legal employment abroad,” noting that the experience could eventually support Ukraine’s postwar economy.

However, the relaxed rules have already led to visible increases in border crossings. Poland’s border guard service reported that weekly crossings from Ukraine through the Podkarpackie region surged from about 500 to over 6,000 in the first week after the new exemption took effect.

Ukrainian media have also highlighted a growing number of resignations from young men seeking opportunities abroad, alongside a wave of social media discussions expressing frustration among women over what some describe as a shrinking dating pool.

Conscription continues to be one of Ukraine’s most divisive issues, with critics claiming that the system disproportionately impacts lower-income citizens who cannot afford to evade service through bribes. Avoidance of the draft has reportedly weakened mobilization efforts, while Moscow has accused Kiev of waging war “to the last Ukrainian” to serve Western interests.

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