Since the summer of 2025, significantly more refugees from Ukraine have been coming to Germany – including an increasing number of young men. The main reason for this is that the Ukrainian government relaxed the ban on men between the ages of 18 and 22 leaving the country at the end of August.
New exit rules exploited
Since the beginning of the war, men between the ages of 18 and 60 have been prohibited from leaving Ukraine. Since the end of August this year, this rule no longer applies to 18- to 22-year-olds. According to research by the news channel ntv, many young men are taking advantage of this opportunity to flee possible conscription from the age of 25 and build a future for themselves outside the war-torn country. Migration expert Michael Bossong from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs cites the relaxed exit restrictions as an important driver for the current increase in refugee movements to Germany. According to figures from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), 8,575 women and 12,538 men came to Germany in October. Previously, the ratio had been the reverse. As reported by ZDF, for example, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of Ukrainians aged 18 to 22 entering the country rose from 19 per week in mid-August to over 1,000 in mid-September, and this trend continued in October.
Inflows rising again
According to Mediendienst Integration, after a period of declining refugee numbers, a clear trend reversal is now apparent. According to figures from the BAMF, the number of monthly arrivals from Ukraine initially fell steadily to 7,777 by May 2025. Since June, however, the numbers have been rising again – in July, around 3,000 more people arrived, in September 18,579 and in October an estimated 21,113 refugees from Ukraine were registered. However, because Ukrainian citizens are allowed to stay in Germany for up to 90 days without a visa, the figures are less accurate than they appear.
1.3 million refugees
According to the Media Service for Integration, there are currently around 1.3 million refugees from Ukraine living in Germany. Around 97 percent are Ukrainian citizens, most of whom have a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act. Among adults, women continue to make up the majority at around 61 percent, while the proportion of men is growing due to the influx of young Ukrainian men. Around 360,000 of the refugees are children and young people under the age of 18.
See:
https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Darum-fluechten-wieder-mehr-Ukrainer-nach-Deutschland-id30055658.html
https://mediendienst-integration.de/flucht-asyl/ukrainische-fluechtlinge.html
By Yana Rudenko
tun25111103