With the start of the Russian attack, the Ukrainian government imposed a travel ban on all men between the ages of 18 and 60. Since then, leaving the country has only been possible with special permission. This constitutes a violation of the human right to freedom of movement.
Since the end of August 2025, men between the ages of 18 and 22 have been allowed to leave the country. Many are taking advantage of this opportunity. Among them are presumably many conscientious objectors. Although the Constitution guarantees them the human right to conscientious objection, in practice there is no procedure for this. Applications are not accepted, are arbitrarily rejected, and even explicit recognitions are not taken into account. Instead, more and more end up being forcibly recruited, in prison, or in the military. As a result, young Ukrainians who are liable for military service and want to refuse to serve have no choice but to leave the country.
Now Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) says in the German tabloid newspaper BILD : “It doesn't help anyone if more and more young men from Ukraine come to Germany instead of defending their own homeland.” He says that “Ukrainian soldiers are also need to defend their own country.” He is therefore calling on the EU and Berlin to “put pressure on Ukraine to change the relaxed exit regulations again.” [1]
He is supported by the Secretary General of the CDU, Carsten Linnemann, in the German magazine Stern: “That is why it is not right that many young men in particular are leaving Ukraine.” [2]
Freedom of movement and the right to conscientious objection are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (Art. 2(2) 4th Protocol and Art. 9 of the ECHR). This is binding international law.
Connection e.V. misses a commitment from German and EU politicians to uphold human rights, not only in Ukraine, but also here.
No one may be forced to perform military service against their will or conscience.
The human rights to freedom of movement and conscientious objection must not be sacrificed to war.
Young people are not cannon fodder; they must not be used up in war—conscientious objectors have the law on their side.
In May 2024, Connection e.V. received the International Bremen Peace Prize from the die schwelle foundation. More information can be found here: Connection
[1] www.bild.de/politik/inland/soeder-will-zuzug-ukrainischer-maenner-begrenzen-68fa5cbbc014c78e37fb78fd
