According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, about eight million citizens of the country are forced to stay abroad due to the war. This was reported by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha while answering questions from members of parliament during the “hour of questions to the government” in the Verkhovna Rada.
This is reported by Finway
Forced migration and measures for return
Previously, official estimates of the number of Ukrainians who left the country due to the full-scale invasion of Russia ranged from four to seven million people. However, according to Sybiha, this figure has now reached eight million. The minister emphasized that such large-scale migration poses a serious security challenge for the country.
“According to our data, not six, but eight million Ukrainians are forced to stay abroad. For us, this is indeed becoming a security challenge. We are stating directly that necessary measures will be taken, and necessary steps will be developed to stimulate or create appropriate conditions for the return of Ukrainians home. This is the main strategic goal. Undoubtedly, conditions must be created for this, primarily security conditions in the homeland,” said the minister.
The Ukrainian authorities are already developing a comprehensive set of measures to facilitate the return of their citizens. Among the priorities are ensuring security and creating favorable living conditions in Ukraine. Sybiha separately emphasized that Kyiv is negotiating with international partners to jointly promote the return of Ukrainians home.
Efforts of EU countries and the future status of Ukrainian citizens
The minister noted that not all countries are interested in the return of Ukrainians, as they have already integrated into the economies of host countries: they have a high level of qualifications, adaptability, and make a significant contribution to the development of these countries. For example, in Switzerland, there is a special program that covers travel and housing costs for Ukrainians who have decided to return to their homeland. Ukraine is also conducting strategic consultations with European institutions and individual countries regarding material and financial support for the return of its citizens.
In March of this year, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine reported that over 4 million 380 thousand Ukrainians are under temporary protection in European Union countries. According to Eurostat data as of January 2026, the largest number of Ukrainian citizens under protection is in Germany — over 1.26 million. At the same time, in 2025, EU countries issued 683,395 new decisions on granting temporary protection to Ukrainians, which is 14% less than in 2024.
After the start of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation in 2022, the European Union introduced a temporary protection mechanism for the first time, allowing Ukrainians to stay, work, and receive social services in EU countries. The validity of this directive has currently been extended until March 2027.
The European Commission recommends that Ukrainians transition to other national or legal statuses, such as residence permits obtained through employment, education, or research activities, after the temporary protection period ends. Currently, EU countries have begun discussions on the future status of Ukrainians after the directive expires, with the first meeting on this issue taking place in March 2026 with the participation of the EU Special Representative for Ukrainian Affairs Ilva Johansson.