Significant increase in young Ukrainians entering the country
The discussion has been triggered by a significant increase in the number of young Ukrainian men who have entered Germany since the end of August. The reason for this is a decision by the Ukrainian government: it temporarily relaxed the exit restrictions for men between the ages of 18 and 22.
According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, around 20 men per week in this age group were still arriving in Germany in mid-August. By mid-September, there were already over 1,000 per week, and between 1,400 and 1,800 in October.
Söder demands restrictions on leaving the country and stricter EU protection rules
Söder is therefore calling on the European Union and the German government to influence Ukraine to withdraw the relaxed rules. He argues that young men are needed in Ukraine: Germany is providing the country with military, financial and humanitarian support, but "it also needs Ukrainian soldiers to defend their own country".
If Ukraine does not limit departures again, the EU will have to react and adapt the so-called mass influx directive, according to Söder. However, Söder did not specify what an adjustment or tightening of the directive might look like.
Explanation: Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, the mass influx directive has enabled quick and unbureaucratic protection status for all Ukrainian nationals throughout the European Union. In Germany, it is implemented and granted under Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG):
- immediate residence status without asylum procedure
- Access to work, education and health services
- Social benefits such as citizens' income
- uncomplicated family reunification
The EU only extended protection until March 2027 in June. The only new aspect since August 2025 is that Germany will check applications to see whether the person has already received protection in another EU member state. In future, protection will be refused in the event of duplicate applications.
Federal government plans changes to citizens' allowance for Ukrainians
In addition, Söder once again questioned the citizens' allowance for Ukrainians and called for lower benefits under the Asylum Seekers Act. The federal government should examine how limited access could be legally implemented.
In fact, Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas (SPD) is currently working on a corresponding reform. Under the new regulation, Ukrainians who arrive in Germany after April 1, 2025 will no longer be entitled to citizen's allowance, but will only receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
Bas recently confirmed that the draft bill is currently being voted on by the ministries. It is to be submitted to the Bundestag by the end of this year at the latest. It is not yet known when the new citizen's income regulation will come into force and what it contains in detail.
Conclusion: What Söder's demand means for Ukrainian refugees
Söder's proposals currently have no legal implications for people with Section 24 status already living in Germany. Their rights remain unchanged. In concrete terms, this means
- The protection status according to § 24 AufenthG remains valid until March 2027
- Residence permit can still be applied for and extended
- Access to work, education and social benefits remains in place
- New applications are checked to see whether protection already exists in another EU country
An adjustment of the mass influx directive at EU level is also currently rather questionable. Although individual politicians in Germany are calling for stricter rules, there is not yet a majority in favor of this at European level. Many member states emphasize that the directive has been a key instrument for humanitarian support since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression.
What's more, the EU only extended the protected status until March 2027 in June. A renewed political debate on changes is therefore considered unlikely.
The dominant line in Brussels is currently to continue to support Ukrainian refugees and expand integration measures rather than tighten the regulations. Observers therefore expect the current regulations to remain in place for the time being.
