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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Reports about a supposed mass deportation of Ukrainians from the European Union do not reflect the overall situation: the EU has extended the temporary protection mechanism. At the same time, this status does not mean that a person is protected from a return decision under all circumstances. Risks arise, in particular, due to violations of migration rules, loss of legitimate grounds for residence, or the use of forged documents.
As of May 2026, about 4,38 million Ukrainians were benefiting from temporary protection in EU countries. However, the right to stay legally in the EU depends on complying with the established rules and possessing the appropriate migration status. This is reported by the 24 channel.
Who may be at risk of deportation
One of the risk categories is citizens who illegally crossed the state border. Specifically, this refers to cases where people land on EU territory outside official checkpoints — through forests, rivers, or other border areas.
Under such circumstances, migration authorities may detain the person, verify the grounds for their stay, and begin the procedures provided by law. This may include Ukrainians who illegally crossed the border via the Tisza or other unofficial routes.
Refusal of refugee status
Another risk group is Ukrainians who asked for international protection or refugee status rather than temporary protection and received a final denial, without having other lawful grounds for residence.
Additional problems may arise for those who, after a decision by migration authorities, attempt to avoid complying with the expulsion order.
Information about the deportation decision can be entered into the Schengen Information System (SIS), which can affect the person’s ability to stay lawfully in other Schengen states.
Moreover, losing a legal migratory status can lead to restrictions on access to employment, social support, and other rights granted to foreigners on lawful grounds.
Counterfeit documents
Serious consequences can also occur when a forged passport, residence permit, status document, or other fake papers are used.
Such actions can be a basis not only for migration sanctions but also for criminal penalties depending on the laws of the specific country.
In cases of fraud, threats to public order, or national security, competent authorities may also shorten the period given to a person for voluntary departure or may not grant it at all.
Additionally, a person may be excluded from the temporary protection mechanism if there are serious, legally prescribed grounds, notably related to security or commission of serious offenses.
Does deportation threaten because of an expired passport
The expiration of a Ukrainian international passport does not by itself mean automatic deportation from the EU. In certain situations, Ukrainian citizenship can be confirmed by a document whose validity has already expired.
At the same time, difficulties may arise if an expired passport is combined with other circumstances — for example, a person no longer holds a valid residence permit or cannot verify the legality of their stay in the country.
In some states, the current validity of documents also affects the maintenance of status and the receipt of assistance. In Poland, some Ukrainians must update information about their foreign passport by 31 August. This concerns, among others, individuals who applied for a PESEL UKR without a passport or who subsequently obtained a new document.
As a reminder, EU countries agreed to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until 4 March 2028 of the year. This provides people with additional time to legally reside, work, and receive social support, but does not guarantee an automatic transition to permanent status.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Кого з українців можуть депортувати з ЄС: три категорії ризику". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: NARDEP 24.
