Carsten Linnemann, general secretary of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, has publicly criticized the growing number of young Ukrainian men arriving in Germany, RTL and ntv reported.

Speaking on television, Linnemann said such Ukrainians should not rely on Germany's social welfare system but should seek employment instead.

"I don't want to deport anyone. But if someone comes to Germany and is young, then of course they should not rely on the social welfare system; their goal should be to find work," Linnemann said.

He added that the situation with Ukrainians is particularly sensitive because they are fighting for freedom.

"And we support Ukrainians. This is about a very important issue: peace and freedom. I find it unacceptable that so many young people are coming to us because there is a war in Ukraine. And these people are needed there," Linnemann said.

The recent law in Ukraine, effective from 28 August 2025, allows Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad without restrictions during martial law. This change aims to help young Ukrainians maintain ties with Ukraine and realize their potential, especially in education, while balancing military needs.

According to Germany's Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of young Ukrainians aged 18 to 22 entering the country increased from 19 per week in mid-August to over 1,000 in mid-September. In October, these figures rose further, reaching between 1,400 and nearly 1,800 per week.

Bavaria's Premier Markus Söder has intensified calls to limit the entry of young Ukrainian men, demanding that the EU pressure Ukraine on this issue.

As of early October 2025, there were about 1,293,672 people from Ukraine registered in Germany's Central Register of Foreigners as having fled Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022. However, around 450,000 Ukrainians were no longer registered as residents by the end of September 2025.

Ylva Johansson, former European Commissioner for Home Affairs, will serve as the European Union's new special envoy for Ukrainians in the bloc, POLITICO reported on June 12.

According to anonymous officials that spoke to POLITICO, Johansson will fill the newly created post, overseeing the Commission's long-term strategy for Ukrainian refugees currently residing in the European Union.

Johansson, a former Swedish minister and European Commission official, previously visited Ukraine on several occasions, including a refugee camp on the border with Romania. She received the Ukrainian order of merit in September 2024.

As special envoy, Johansson will be responsible for EU initiatives focused on helping Ukrainian refugees transition into permanent legal statuses or return home.

As part of these initiatives, the EU will launch "unity hubs" – information centers jointly managed with the Ukrainian government. The hubs will support Ukrainian refugees to integrate with EU host countries or repatriate to Ukraine.

Germany, which has has taken in more than 1 million Ukrainian refugees since the start of the full-scale invasion, recently committed to establishing unity hubs in Berlin. The unity hubs in Berlin will provide Ukrainians with access to educational and career opportunities both in Ukraine and Germany.

The European Commission also recently extended temporary protection Ukrainian refugees who fled to the EU following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

According to Eurostat, 4.26 million Ukrainians currently hold temporary protection status in the EU as of April 2025.

Germany to supply new Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine, rules out Taurus missiles

Germany will deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine under a three-year supply plan, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who said Berlin has no plans to provide Taurus long-range missiles.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy