The Polish government has expressed support for revising the temporary protection regulations for Ukrainian refugees within the European Union. This includes a proposal to exclude men of conscription age from the list of individuals eligible for automatic protection status.
This position was reported by RMF24, citing an unnamed Polish diplomat, and is currently under discussion among EU member states as they consider changes to the temporary protection mechanism established following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The diplomat stated, “In our view, it is uncontroversial that individuals who cannot legally leave Ukraine should not be granted temporary protection in the EU.” This perspective is set to be addressed by EU interior ministers in a meeting scheduled for June 4.
Furthermore, the Polish official noted that such a decision would positively impact relations with the Ukrainian government, which supports these restrictions due to its ongoing manpower shortages on the front lines.
The diplomat argued that denying temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens of conscription age does not violate ethical or humanitarian principles, as it aligns their rights with those of other foreign nationals.
Additionally, Polish authorities are in favor of eliminating special privileges for Ukrainian refugees in favor of standard migration rules. However, Poland opposes any restrictions based on geographical factors, such as those implemented by Norway, which has excluded refugees from relatively safe regions of Ukraine, including Lviv, Volyn, and Transcarpathia, from automatic protection.
As of March 2026, approximately 4.38 million Ukrainians who fled the country due to the invasion are under temporary protection in EU nations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha recently estimated that around 8 million Ukrainians are currently displaced abroad.
Poland is advocating for changes to the EU's temporary protection rules for Ukrainian refugees, proposing to exclude men of conscription age from automatic status. This initiative reflects ongoing discussions among EU member states regarding the management of refugee protections in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.