Study: Ukrainians living abroad less likely to consider returning to Ukraine

According to the Razumkov Ukrainian Centre for Economic and Political Research. According to the Razumkov Ukrainian Centre for Economic and Political Research, in 2025, Ukrainians abroad are less and less likely to perceive returning to their homeland as an unambiguous prospect. This was reported by Olga Pishchulina, an expert of social programmes of the Centre, at a press conference on 18 December, Interfax-Ukraine quoted her as saying.

We record a significant decrease in the number of those who intend to return home," Pishchulina said.

If in 2022 many declared plans to return soon after the end of active hostilities, then already from 2023 the share of those who postpone the decision or hesitate is growing.

According to the expert, Ukrainians retain attachment to their homeland at the value level, but real plans for return become dependent on the context: security, economic situation and state reintegration policy. Individual scenarios prevail among migrants: delayed return, partial family return or circular mobility. Key factors are employment, housing, children's education and the level of integration in the host country.

Experts warn: if Ukraine, together with international partners, does not develop incentives and return programmes, after 2027 some Ukrainians may permanently stay abroad.

Without clear strategic documents and action plans for reintegration, we will continue to observe the current situation," Pavlo Rozenko, an expert on social and economic policy and former deputy prime minister of Ukraine, stressed.

The deputy director of the Institute for European and Transatlantic Dialogue, Benjamin Bobbe, added that Ukrainians abroad were a key resource for the country's post-war reconstruction.

It is important for European countries to understand: Ukrainians with their knowledge should return and use their potential to rebuild Ukraine," he said.

The study also contains recommendations for state bodies, local governments and international partners to develop a national reintegration strategy, strengthen the role of communities and create sustainable socio-economic conditions for returning citizens. The project is implemented with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Ukraine.