Housing crisis and Russian propaganda - problems of Ukrainians in Germany

Tetyana Honcharuk, a representative of the Berlin-based organisation "Migrant Women in Marzan", which helps Ukrainians abroad, told about this during a webinar dedicated to the problematic issues of Ukrainians in Germany. According to her, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Germany has exceeded one million, and many of them have faced systemic problems in their host country.

The most acute topic for Ukrainians in Germany is extending their residence permits.

"The biggest concern for our citizens is the issue of residence permits. In the European Union, the temporary stay of Ukrainian refugees has been extended for another year - until March 2027. But people still perceive it as a short period and feel anxious" - emphasised Goncharuk.

According to her, Germany is actively discussing changes in the system of social benefits for Ukrainian refugees. Although the new rules have not been implemented yet, rumours about the reduction of support increase tension among the displaced people. In addition, the spread of Russian propaganda has created a stigmatisation of Ukrainians as supposedly "privileged" refugees, which translates into cases of discrimination.

"Unfortunately, in practice we see a lot of discrimination and racism .... People sometimes cannot use the rights they have, for example, with insurance: formally it is guaranteed, but there are problems that require appeals or complaints" - said the human rights activist.

She paid special attention to the situation of people with disabilities and those who need constant care (elderly, seriously ill). Language barriers and physical limitations prevent them from taking integration courses and learning about their rights, so such vulnerable groups are often left without proper assistance.

"I would like to see more support from the Ukrainian state for these people at the political level," Goncharuk added.

Another big problem is the lack of affordable housing. In Berlin, as throughout Germany, it is difficult for Ukrainians to find a permanent flat.

"Berlin is a big city, and it is quite difficult to find accommodation here. A significant part of people still do not have it" - explained Goncharuk.

According to her data, many women with children fleeing the war found themselves in a critical situation: they have to agree to unsatisfactory or even dangerous living conditions in order not to end up on the street.

"Women are forced to tolerate certain conditions because they have no other option, otherwise they will end up on the streets," she said.

As a result, domestic violence and exploitation are not uncommon. The volunteer told about many incidents when men who provide Ukrainian women with accommodation demanded intimate relations from them or exerted psychological pressure.

"Unfortunately, there have been many cases when women become dependent and are harassed by men. They are forced to endure this, because they have nowhere to return to - the house was left in the occupied territory or destroyed," Goncharuk shared the bitter statistics.

She estimates that her organisation in Berlin deals with up to ten particularly difficult cases of violence or exploitation every year, when a woman's life cannot be secured without intervention.

The psycho-emotional state of internally displaced persons is also aggravated. Goncharuk noted an increase in the number of requests for psychological help, especially among young people and mothers. Separation from relatives and uncertainty of the future lead to depressive moods.

"There are significantly more cases of mental disorders, especially among children, teenagers, young women. It is very hard for mothers who are in Germany with their children while their husbands or sons are fighting in the homeland - this is a serious psychological pressure," she said.

Many IDPs suffer from sleep disturbances and anxiety because of the uncertainty of not knowing how long they can stay in Germany and what awaits them in Ukraine when they return. Volunteers note that psychiatric help is often needed more than psychological counselling, but it is not easy to obtain. It is difficult to get an appointment with a psychiatrist in Berlin, and the language barrier remains a serious obstacle.

Tetyana Honcharuk called for the creation of joint Ukrainian-German psychological support projects: the need for such services is very high, but access to them is limited.

According to Goncharuk, uncertainty reigns among Ukrainians in Germany: some of them hope to return to their homeland, while others are trying to settle down in a new country. According to surveys, only about 25 per cent are ready to return home, and that is after the active phase of the war is over. On the contrary, 38% directly say that they do not plan to return. The rest want to live for two countries or are still in doubt.

However, adaptation in Germany is hindered by bureaucratic barriers - for example, the complicated and lengthy procedure of recognising Ukrainian diplomas, which does not allow qualified specialists to get a job quickly. Nevertheless, many are eager to find employment and support their families financially, the volunteer said. She called on the Ukrainian authorities and international organisations to pay attention to these problems.

Without active outreach and institutional support, Ukrainian refugees risk being left alone with their difficulties abroad. Goncharuk stressed that her organisation will continue communicating with state structures to seek solutions at the systemic level and urged the displaced people themselves not to keep silent about their problems and to seek help.