The EU Council extended the temporary protection of Ukrainians and introduced a new condition

The Council of the European Union has officially extended temporary protection for Ukrainians who left the country due to the full-scale Russian invasion. At the same time, additional conditions have been introduced for new applicants.

This is stated in the Official Journal of the European Union.

According to the decision, the temporary protection will be valid until March 4, 2028. The document will enter into force on August 5, 2026.

In addition to extending the protection period, the Council of the EU clarified the conditions for granting it to new applicants. In particular, the status will not be granted to persons who cannot confirm the performance of military duties in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.

The document states that this norm was introduced taking into account the current defense needs of Ukraine. To confirm the fulfillment of military duty, EU member states will be able to require relevant documents or other evidence.

At the same time, the new rules will only apply to applications submitted after the decision enters into force. They will not apply to Ukrainians who already enjoy temporary protection in EU countries and will continuously maintain this status.

The EU Council decision states that temporary protection will be granted only to those persons who, where possible, can prove to the competent authorities of the Member States that they have fulfilled their military obligations.