The Prime Minister of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union, Markus Söder, has called for stricter restrictions on the entry of young Ukrainian men into Germany. He emphasized that these Ukrainian citizens should remain in their country and participate in its defense.
This is reported by Finway
“It won’t help anyone if even more young people from Ukraine come to Germany instead of defending their homeland,” Söder stated.
Possible Changes to Social Benefits and Protection Rules
Markus Söder expressed support for reviewing the conditions for providing social benefits, specifically Bürgergeld, to Ukrainians and for limiting the application of the EU Directive on Temporary Protection. The politician highlighted that Germany continues to provide significant support to Ukraine in the form of weapons, finances, and humanitarian aid; however, according to him, the country also needs more Ukrainian soldiers for defense.
Söder noted that solidarity should be built on clear rules and responsibilities for both sides. If Ukraine does not regulate the issue of young men’s departure on its own, he suggests implementing additional restrictions at the European Union level.
Increase in the Number of Ukrainian Refugees in Germany
This is not the first initiative by the Bavarian Prime Minister regarding the control of Ukrainian migration. On October 20, he advocated for the need for “smart and clear rules” regarding the influx of Ukrainian migrants.
According to the German Ministry of the Interior, after Kyiv lifted the exit ban for men aged 18 to 22 in August 2025, the number of applications for temporary protection from this category of Ukrainians increased from approximately 100 to 1,000 per week. Overall, the number of Ukrainians seeking protection in Germany has risen:
- May 2025 — 7,961 individuals;
- August 2025 — 11,277 individuals;
- September 2025 — 18,755 individuals.
Ukrainian citizens in Germany receive residence permits under § 24 of the Residence Act, which grants immediate access to the labor market and social benefits.
At the beginning of 2025, there were 299,670 Ukrainian citizens employed in Germany, of which 174,080 were women and 125,590 were men. The employment rate among Ukrainians in Germany is slightly over 33%, which is lower compared to neighboring countries that also accepted a large number of refugees after the end of February 2022.