Denia Tightens Asylum Rules for Ukrainians, Targeting New Arrivals and Military-Age Men

Denmark Proposes Changes to Temporary Protection for Ukrainian Citizens

According to Главком: The Danish government will review a bill in April that would alter the rules for granting temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens. Under the new proposal, Denmark intends to stop offering general temporary protection to new arrivals from 14 specific regions of Ukraine. This policy shift will affect individuals arriving from the following areas:

• Cherkasy
• Chernivtsi
• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Khmelnytskyi
• Kirovohrad
• Kyiv (excluding the city of Kyiv)
• Lviv
• Poltava
• Rivne
• Ternopil
• Vinnytsia
• Volyn
• Zakarpattia
• Zhytomyr

New Restrictions for Military-Age Men

A key element of the draft law involves new restrictions for men eligible for military service. Men aged 23 to 60 will be denied residency under the special law unless they can provide documented proof of exemption from military service. For men under 23, residency permits will only be available until they reach that age. After turning 23, extending a residence permit will be contingent upon submitting official documentation confirming exemption from mobilization.

These proposed changes will not apply to Ukrainians who have already been granted residency under the special law. Meanwhile, the European Union is not currently considering the forced return of Ukrainian men of conscription age who are under temporary protection, and no changes to this stance are anticipated in 2026. This move by Denmark reflects a broader European trend of reassessing support mechanisms as the war in Ukraine continues. The proposed restrictions could significantly impact Ukrainian refugees, particularly military-age men seeking sanctuary, and raise concerns about equitable access to international protection during an ongoing conflict.