Number of Ukrainian refugees willing to return gradually declines
global.espreso.tv
Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:49:00 +0300

This was stated by Viktor Savinok, Senior Analyst at the Western Institute (Poznań, Poland), in an interview on Espreso TV."The situation around Ukrainian refugees in Europe largely depends on the general context. According to sociological surveys conducted by German experts among Ukrainians in Germany, a certain dynamic can be observed," Savinok noted.According to the senior analyst, from 2022 to 2024, Ukrainian refugees were surveyed about their willingness to return to Ukraine. These trends can partially be extrapolated to Ukrainian students abroad, as much depends on the level of their integration."It is worth noting that the number of those willing to return is gradually decreasing, although as of mid-2024, more than 70% of respondents in Germany stated that they were ready to return home. However, there are two key factors influencing this decision — the end of hostilities and the cessation of Russian aggression, and the economic situation in Ukraine after the war. These are global circumstances, and no person — whether a student or one of the more than four million Ukrainian refugees in the EU — can influence them. Therefore, there is no universal solution to these problems," Savinok pointed out.The expert also added that, at the same time, an important factor is the ability to integrate into the society of the host country."Will people be able to find a job in their profession? Will they master the language at a level sufficient for decent work and salary? Many Ukrainian refugees work outside their profession or in sectors where high qualifications are not required.For men, it is primarily construction and related fields. For women — services, trade, care for people with disabilities or the elderly, as well as the hotel and restaurant sector.As a result, a gap arises between who a person is in terms of education and professional skills in Ukraine, and how their qualifications are perceived abroad. This creates a dilemma: stay in a safe country and work outside of one's field or return to Ukraine after the war and face economic difficulties but with chances of a more prestigious job in the future," Savinok concluded.
Latest news
