BRUSSELS — The European Union has proposed extending temporary protection for millions of Ukrainians who have fled the ongoing conflict with Russia, while excluding newly arriving individuals who are subject to mandatory military service under Ukrainian law.

The move, announced Friday by the European Commission, aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities more than four years into the full-scale war, which has resulted in an estimated 600,000 military casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported in February that 55,000 troops have died and many more remain missing.

Since 2022, over 4.4 million Ukrainians have sought refuge within EU member states, predominantly Germany and Poland. Those already in the EU have received temporary residency permits along with access to housing, social welfare, healthcare, and education. The current protection scheme is scheduled to expire in March 2027, but the Commission seeks to extend it by an additional year.

However, the revised regulations would prevent granting temporary protection to new arrivals between the ages of 23 and 60 who are unable to leave Ukraine due to military obligations. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner emphasized that the adjustment is intended to support Ukraine’s need to maintain its defense forces and is expected to take effect within weeks after approval by the EU’s 27 member countries.

In addition to prolonging protection, the Commission plans to pilot a new initiative offering assistance to Ukrainians in Europe who wish to return home once conditions improve.

The proposal has prompted criticism from the Council of Europe’s human rights watchdog, which cautioned against limiting protection and aid, especially for those eligible for military service. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty highlighted that current conditions in Ukraine do not yet permit safe and dignified returns. He warned that rescinding protections without adequate safeguards risks pushing millions into legal uncertainty, poverty, or involuntary returns to unsafe environments.

The Council of Europe also expressed concerns over the implementation of blanket restrictions, advocating for individual assessments of protection claims given that some Ukrainians may seek refuge due to valid fears related to military service.

The European Commission defended its approach as a balance between providing humanitarian protection and ensuring Ukraine’s ability to freely determine its defense arrangements amid Russia’s ongoing aggression. The extension and revised eligibility criteria are part of the bloc’s broader effort to align asylum policies with the realities of the conflict.