Germany to assist in repatriating 356,000 Ukrainian men of conscription age

Joint Ukraine-Germany Interagency Task Force Established

According to Radiotrek — Світ: Ukraine and Germany have formed a joint interagency working group aimed at developing strategies to bring back Ukrainian men of military age who left the country illegally. According to Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, there are currently over 356,000 Ukrainian men eligible for conscription residing in Germany.

The group’s primary objective is to create frameworks that encourage the return of these young Ukrainians. Makeiev noted that discussions on these mechanisms are ongoing within the task force:

“I will not disclose these mechanisms yet. They are currently being discussed within the framework of this working group.” – Oleksii Makeiev

Key Focus Areas

As of the end of May, Germany was home to 1.348 million Ukrainian refugees, including 356,000 men of fighting age. The task force operates along two main tracks:

• The Unity Hub project, designed to inform the Ukrainian community about available opportunities;
• Joint development of mechanisms that could facilitate the return of Ukrainians to their home country.

Makeiev emphasized the significance of this initiative:

“It is in our interest and in Germany’s interest to ensure that professionally trained Ukrainians can be counted on during Ukraine’s reconstruction. This is our shared interest.” – Oleksii Makeiev

More Ukrainians in Germany are finding jobs, giving up social benefits, and starting to pay taxes, highlighting their integration into German society.

The creation of this interagency task force marks a critical step in addressing the return of Ukrainian men of draft age, underscoring the efforts of both nations to strengthen cooperation and support for the Ukrainian community abroad.

This initiative signals a deepening collaboration between Ukraine and Germany in supporting Ukrainians displaced abroad due to the war. Given the large number of Ukrainians currently in Germany, the developed mechanisms could become a vital tool for bringing skilled workers back, which in turn will aid Ukraine’s future rebuilding efforts.

In addition to the establishment of the interagency task force, Ukraine has recently introduced a new initiative aimed at facilitating the return of its citizens. The digital platform 'Dodomu' serves as a vital resource for refugees, providing essential information and support to ease their transition back home. This complements the ongoing efforts between Ukraine and Germany to strengthen the ties and assist those eligible for conscription.