---
title: "Only 60 Ukrainians Contacted Berlin Return Center in Six Months, Three of Conscription Age"
description: "During its first six months of operation, the Berlin Unity Hub Berlin center received about 60 inquiries from Ukrainians interested in returning home. Among the applicants, only three turned out to be men of conscription age, and the majority consider relocation only after hostilities cease."
date: 2026-11-04T18:40:11.775Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/berlin-return-center-60-ukrainians-conscription-age
tags: [ukraine, germany, unity-hub-berlin, refugees, return-to-ukraine, temporary-protection, diaspora]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Only 60 Ukrainians Contacted Berlin Return Center in Six Months, Three of Conscription Age

![People sitting in a waiting area and talking with staff at the TXL Ukrainian refugee arrival center in Berlin](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/berlinskij-centr-vozvrashcheniya-60-ukraincev-tri-pripoznogo-vozrasta/berlinskij-centr-vozvrashcheniya-60-ukraincev-tri-pripoznogo-vozrasta-1.webp)

## Key Points

- In six months of operation, Unity Hub Berlin received about 60 inquiries from Ukrainians about returning, with only three being men of conscription age
- Most applicants consider returning only after hostilities cease and security stabilizes
- As of the end of May 2026, more than 1.3 million Ukrainians lived in Germany, including 266,000 men aged 23–60
- The Unity Hub Berlin center opened in April 2026 with the assistance of the governments of Ukraine and Germany
- Germany extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2028

The Unity Hub Berlin special consultation center, established to support Ukrainian refugees in Germany, received about 60 inquiries from Ukrainian citizens interested in conditions for returning to their homeland during its first six months of operation. According to the center itself, out of all applicants, only three turned out to be men of conscription age, ranging from 18 to 60 years old. The vast majority of applicants, according to Unity Hub Berlin, sought primarily informational and advisory assistance: they were interested in general conditions for leaving Germany, mechanisms of state support during the relocation phase, and prospects for reintegration into Ukrainian society after returning.

### Return — Only After Hostilities Cease

A key conclusion made by the center's analysts is that the overwhelming majority of those who applied consider the possibility of returning to Ukraine exclusively after the final cessation of active hostilities and the stabilization of the security situation. This means that at the current stage, the flow of consultations is predominantly 'informational' in nature: people are making inquiries for the future, studying procedures, and assessing their own prospects, but are not moving on to practical preparations for relocation. Unity Hub Berlin explicitly clarified that as of the end of October 2026, there is no confirmed data on the number of people who, after consultations, began practical preparations for departure or actually returned to Ukraine.

### Context: 1.3 Million Ukrainians and 266 Thousand Men of Conscription Age

According to the German Ministry of Interior, as of the end of May 2026, more than 1.3 million Ukrainian citizens who left due to the war were living in the country. Of this number, almost 266,000 were men aged 23 to 60 — that is, in the age category subject to conscription in Ukraine. At the same time, Unity Hub Berlin emphasized that the mere presence of these men on German territory does not mean that all of them are subject to mobilization: some citizens may have grounds provided by Ukrainian legislation for exemption from military service, including medical indications, family circumstances, and other legal exceptions.

### What is Unity Hub Berlin and When Did It Open

The Unity Hub Berlin center was opened in April 2026 with the assistance of the governments of Ukraine and Germany. Its main mission is to support Ukrainian citizens living abroad and maintain their connection with Ukraine amid a prolonged diaspora. The center's specialists provide comprehensive consultations: from information about employment and educational programs to access to social security. In addition, they help with documentary issues, the resumption of professional activities, and inform about opportunities and procedures for returning to Ukraine. Thus, the center functions as a 'bridge' between the Ukrainian diaspora in Germany and the state institutions of their home country.

### Temporary Protection and Its Restrictions for New Arrivals

An important legal context for everyone considering a return scenario is the status of temporary protection in Germany. The Bundestag extended the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2028. However, for newly arrived men of conscription age, obtaining this status is possible only under certain conditions, making the legal situation for this group more complex and requiring individual consultation. Such issues apparently make up a significant portion of the requests received by Unity Hub Berlin from Ukrainians planning their future amid the ongoing conflict.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Только трое мужчин обращались в Центр возвращения украинцев в Берлине за полгода, - СМИ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/lishe-troe-cholovikiv-zvertalisya-tsentru-1793816884.html) - Primary source conveying Unity Hub Berlin data. All figures (60 inquiries, 3 of conscription age, 1.3 million Ukrainians, 266 thousand men) are taken from this source. There are no discrepancies with other data.

## FAQ

### How many Ukrainians contacted Unity Hub Berlin in six months?

About 60 people contacted the center with questions about returning to Ukraine. Among them, only three turned out to be men of conscription age.

### When did the Unity Hub Berlin center open?

The center opened in April 2026 with the assistance of the governments of Ukraine and Germany to support Ukrainian refugees in Germany.

### How many Ukrainians live in Germany?

According to the German Interior Ministry as of the end of May 2026, more than 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees lived in the country, nearly 266,000 of whom were men aged 23 to 60.

### Until what date is temporary protection valid for Ukrainians in Germany?

Germany extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2028. For newly arrived men of conscription age, obtaining the status is possible only under certain conditions.

### Has anyone who contacted the center actually returned yet?

Unity Hub Berlin clarified that as of the end of October 2026, there is no confirmed data on the number of people who, after consultations, began practical preparations for departure or actually returned to Ukraine.