The population loss since the outbreak of the war has been massive in Ukraine: almost half of the citizens live abroad. The government in Kyiv now provides possible returnees.
The Ukrainian government wants to strive for the return of war refugees who live in Germany. With so-called “Unity Hubs” (unit centers), offers are to be made to return to the home country, on the other hand, the refugees should be supported in working and housing or with educational offers if they do not yet want to return.
The institutions should “serve as a point of contact for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, make cultural offers, offer language and state history lessons, to support a job in Ukraine and in Germany as well as to the voluntary return to Ukraine and to advise the country to rebuild”, “, It said in a message from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The first center will soon open in Berlin, more in other cities are to follow.
At least 20 million Ukrainians not in the country
Around 1.2 million people with Ukrainian citizenship live in Germany, including 350,000 children and adolescents. More than 60 percent of adults are women. No other country has fled in no other country since the Russian invasion.
The consequences for Ukraine are dramatic: only 32 million people live in the areas controlled by the government in Kiev. At the time of independence after the decay of the Soviet Union in 1991, 52 million were still available. The number of Ukrainians who live abroad is estimated by the government in Kiev to 20 to 25 million.
Ukraine lack workers
“A considerable number of Ukrainians are seriously considering returning home,” said the Ukrainian vice head of the Vice Government Oleksij Tschernyschow last week when visiting Berlin. He heads a Ministry of National Unity, founded specifically for the return of refugees.
Returners give Tschernyschow a guarantee: they would be set up by military service if they worked in “critical industries” such as armaments production, the energy sector and in reconstruction.
Faeser: Protection as long as the war continues
“You will continue to be safe as long as the war lasts,” said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser. Nevertheless, Ukraine is supported “to keep contact with their refugee nationals in Germany in this terrible time of war”.
The hubs should also work with the Federal Employment Agency. In October 2024, 240,000 Ukrainian citizens in Germany were employed in Germany, 74,000 more than in the previous year. In addition, there were around 50,500 minor employees.
