While the European Union saw a decline in new temporary protection decisions for people fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine during the second quarter of 2026, Bulgaria recorded one of the bloc’s largest increases, according to the latest Eurostat data.
EU countries issued 138,045 new temporary protection decisions between April and June, 16.2% fewer than in the first quarter, a decrease of 26,760 decisions. Bulgaria moved in the opposite direction, recording an increase of 2,215 decisions over the same period. In absolute terms, this was the third-largest increase in the EU, behind Slovakia with 2,365 and ahead of Greece with 1,315.
The upward trend in Bulgaria also continued in June. EU countries issued 42,820 new decisions during the month, 3,920 more than in May. Bulgaria registered 870 additional decisions, placing it among the countries with the largest monthly increases. Only Germany, with 1,825, and the Czech Republic, with 1,470, recorded larger rises.
The figures for new decisions should not be confused with the total number of people currently under temporary protection. At the end of June, 4.41 million people who had fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion were protected under the EU mechanism, an increase of 24,380, or 0.6%, from a month earlier. Twenty-four member states reported increases, while three recorded declines.
