Thousands of young Ukrainians flock to Germany after receiving exit permits

After Ukrainian men up to the age of 22 were granted permission to leave the country, the number of young Ukrainians applying for asylum in Germany increased tenfold—from around 100 to around 1,000 per week.

As the UNN portal writes, the German Interior Ministry confirmed that since the rule change on August 28, there has been a record influx of this age group. On October 4, 2025, more than 1.29 million Ukrainians were registered in the Central Register of Foreigners.

In September, 18,755 new refugees arrived, a significant increase compared to May. By the end of September, the German authorities had already “deregistered” around 450,000 Ukrainian citizens.

Berlin grants Ukrainians a residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act, which also includes access to the labor market. While some German media outlets highlight the sharp increase in young men, Kiev assures that the permit will have no impact on the country's defense capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes that the new regulation does not weaken the state's defense readiness.

(lup)