Overview

• Stephan Mayer of the CSU has formally called for an immediate halt to Bürgergeld payments for Ukrainian men aged 18 to 63 in Germany, arguing they should either enter the workforce or serve in Ukraine’s military.
• Since the start of the war in February 2022, 304,144 Ukrainian men of military age have arrived in Germany and nearly half are drawing benefits.
• Jobcenters reported 150,660 Ukrainian male recipients in March 2025 receiving an average of €882 per month, amounting to roughly €1.33 billion annually.
• The Ukrainian embassy in Berlin has challenged the proposal by highlighting that many men hold legal residency status or are exempt from conscription due to health or family circumstances.
• The issue reflects broader tensions over Germany’s refugee support and social spending as the government faces calls to tighten aid rules for war refugees.