Only Three Draft-Age Ukrainian Men Seek Return Advice at Berlin Hub
Only three Ukrainian men of potential conscription age have asked Berlin’s Unity Hub about returning home since it opened in April, the Rheinische Post reported.
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The center has recorded around 60 enquiries about returning to Ukraine, according to figures passed on by the Ukrainian Embassy. Most were requests for information and advice, not concrete plans to leave.
The strongest interest came from “citizens of retirement age,” the center said. Most applicants would consider returning only after the fighting ends and security stabilizes.
As of Oct. 28, the center had no reliable data on how many people began preparing to return after a consultation.
A Quarter Million Men
More than 1.3 million people from Ukraine are registered as protection seekers in Germany. At the end of May, 265,804 Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 were in the country, the Interior Ministry said.
The ministry noted the figures say nothing about fitness for service or exemptions. Ukraine relies on steady recruitment to keep defending against Russia.
What the Unity Hub Does
Germany provides the Berlin premises free of charge, while Ukraine runs the center. Kyiv planned such hubs to encourage refugees to return, under a ministry created for that purpose.
Ukrainians can also obtain identity documents there or get advice on education and jobs. Berlin has repeatedly urged Kyiv to keep young men from leaving, while the EU has moved on protection rules for draft-eligible men.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
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