Number of Ukrainians forced abroad by war reaches 8 million, foreign minister says

May 29, 2026 - 09:11

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that, based on Ukrainian government data, about 8 million citizens are abroad because of the war, and that Ukraine is working with international partners to create conditions for their return home.

Source: Sybiha during the Government Question Hour

Quote: "Based on our data, not even 6 million but 8 million Ukrainians are abroad involuntarily. For us, this is genuinely becoming a security challenge. We are saying directly that the necessary measures will be taken and the necessary steps developed to encourage Ukrainians to return home or create proper conditions for their return."

Details: Sybiha said the return of Ukrainians is the state's main strategic goal. To achieve this, he pointed out, security conditions must first be created in Ukraine.

Sybiha added that Kyiv is discussing possible mechanisms with partners to support the return of citizens, and said that "not all countries are interested in this" because of Ukrainians' contribution to the economies of their host states.

He also cited Switzerland as an example of a country that had introduced a programme to encourage Ukrainians to return. It provides financial support, including payment for travel and temporary rental housing after return to Ukraine.

Sybiha said Ukraine is holding talks with both European institutions and individual states on financial support for programmes to help Ukrainian citizens return.

Background:

The European Commission and EU member states are discussing possible unified solutions regarding the status of Ukrainians living in the EU after March 2027, including both the potential termination of temporary protection and its extension for another year.
The Temporary Protection Directive, introduced in March 2022, granted millions of Ukrainians access to a range of rights in the EU without overburdening asylum systems.
Initially designed as a short-term emergency measure, the directive has been extended multiple times and is currently in force until 4 March 2027.
In May, a study by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) projected that if a "fragile peace with concessions" were achieved in the Russia-Ukraine war this year, over half of the current number of Ukrainian refugees would remain in Europe until the end of 2029.