Early in the morning, a queue forms at a shopping mall in the Berlin district of Treptow, where the association "LaruHelps Ukraine" has been helping refugees since the beginning of the war. In recent months, more and more young Ukrainians have come to Germany, notes the public media ZDF in a report and tells about Bogdan and Artyom, who are both 21 years old and arrived in the German capital together. This became possible after the Ukrainian government lifted the ban on men of their age group leaving the country at the end of August, the media outlet explains.
"When the war started, I was 17. At that time, I still had the right to leave, but I didn't want to. "And now I'm glad the ban has been lifted," says Artyom.
"I'm worried I might be drafted"
His friend Bogdan also initially wanted to stay with his parents in Ukraine, but he never imagined the war would last this long. "When the borders reopened, I discussed everything with my parents and decided it was better to leave. No one knows what else could happen," he told the German media.
All Ukrainian men over the age of 25 can be drafted into military service. But due to the shortage of soldiers, this could change quickly, Artyom believes: "I'm worried I might be drafted." They can lower the military age at any time“.
Sergey is 22 years old and has also recently arrived in Germany. He arrived from the Dnipro region with only a single bag. "The drones destroyed the entire infrastructure - we have no water, no electricity and no gas. My hometown of Shakhtyorsk will soon look like a ghost town. I am glad that I was able to leave. To see the world and escape the war," he told the German publication.
Germany registers a sharp increase in migration from Ukraine
ZDF cites data from the German Ministry of the Interior, according to which the number of Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 22 who have arrived has increased significantly. In September, their number exceeded 1,000 people per week for the first time. The trend remained unchanged in October.
Lyudmila works for the organization "LaruHelps Ukraine", whose volunteers help newcomers with advice and basic necessities. Her two brothers, aged 30 and 42, are in Ukraine and are afraid of being mobilized: "They can't leave the country, but they can't lead a normal life either, because at any time, at any corner, they can be caught by the military administration and end up at the front. It's unfair. Not everyone is able to fight," says Lyudmila.
"If I had a son, I would do everything to keep him from going to the front"
Svetlana, who has been living in Berlin for a long time, says that someone always has to defend the country in a war. But he immediately adds: "But if I had a son, I would do everything possible to prevent him from being sent to the front."
Artyom, Bogdan and Sergey also do not want to fight. "Soldiers risk their lives. The conditions are harsh. I don't think I could survive the front," says Artyom, while Sergey adds: "Corruption is rampant in my country. I don't want to be cannon fodder for a country that hasn't really offered me any opportunities.".
Young Ukrainians as a chance for the German economy
Artyom graduated in computer science, while the other two are engineers. According to Professor Yulia Kosyakova from the German Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research, the influx of young men could have a positive impact on the German economy. "Age plays an important role here, young people learn the language faster and establish social contacts more easily", she told ZDF.
Kosyakova believes it is a mistake that Ukrainians who arrived in Germany after April 2025 already receive reduced social benefits: "This also means that they no longer receive support from the employment office, which can greatly harm their integration", the expert explains.
The three young Ukrainians are currently housed in a temporary shelter built on the grounds of the former "Tegel" airport in Berlin. It is not a pleasant place to live, but at least there are no drones and airstrikes at night. They want to learn German quickly and start working. They see their future in Germany, says the report by German public broadcaster ZDF.