Month: September 2025

Decline in Asylum Applications Across Europe

Asylum applications registered in European Union countries, Norway, and Switzerland during the first half of 2025 fell by 23 percent compared to the same period last year, the EU Asylum Agency announced on Monday. The agency notes that “the European asylum landscape underwent significant changes” at the beginning of the year, reports 24brussels.

The decline in applications is primarily attributed to the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, resulting in a two-thirds reduction in the number of Syrian asylum seekers, who previously represented the largest nationality group among applicants. Venezuelans now comprise the most significant demographic of asylum requests.

France received the highest number of applications during this period, with approximately 77,000 submissions, followed closely by Spain and Germany. Belgium ranks sixth, processing around 17,500 applications, largely from individuals hailing from Afghanistan, Palestine, and Eritrea.

Additionally, about 4.3 million Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion have been granted temporary protection within the EU. This status differs from traditional asylum protections.

^{Asylum seekers at a crisis shelter in Groningen, the Netherlands, October 2023 © PHOTO VINCENT JANNINK / ANP / AFP}

The attack triggered a fire in the country’s government building.

On September 8, 2025, Russia launched an extensive overnight assault on Ukraine, deploying 805 drones and 13 missiles. By 8:30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT), Ukrainian Air Force reported that the air defense successfully intercepted 747 combat and decoy drones, along with four Iskander-K cruise missiles, reports 24brussels.

Despite these defenses, five additional Iskander-K missiles, four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 56 drones struck 37 locations across Ukraine. The Ukrainian government confirmed that the drone attacks resulted in a fire at the country’s government building, with emergency services dispatched to control the blaze.

This incident marks the first time since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the government building experienced damage, impacting its roof and upper floors, as noted by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. She reported that in addition to Kyiv, Russian strikes affected the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, and Odesa.

Tragically, a mother and her two-month-old baby were killed in Kyiv, and over 20 individuals sustained injuries as a result of the attacks, according to the State Service for Emergencies.