Under what conditions will Ukrainians return from abroad: expert's answer

Every month of the full-scale war reduces the likelihood of Ukrainians returning from abroad by 2%, claims Doctor of Economic Sciences Dmytro Shushpanov. The expert notes that creating a demographic imbalance is one of the aggressor's goals, and for a mass return of Ukrainians, living conditions must be ensured that are no worse than European ones. This is reported by 24 Channel.

Key factors for the return of Ukrainians home

Shushpanov highlighted five critical factors, without which mass return is impossible:

• Guaranteed safety of life and property.

• Affordable housing for those who lost it due to the war.

• Dignified work with competitive salaries.

• Quality medical services and education.

• Developed infrastructure and social services.

"One of the goals, perhaps, of this war is precisely the demographic imbalance that is being created now in Ukraine. The liberation of the territory from people, so to speak", – noted the economist. 

He also warned that without creating the necessary conditions, demographic gaps in Ukraine could be filled by migrants from other countries.

How many Ukrainians have left for the EU since 2022

As of August 2025, about 4.37 million Ukrainian refugees continue to reside in EU countries. The largest increase in the number of Ukrainians has been recorded in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Romania, where the best conditions for temporary residence have been created.

Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidnyy stated that approximately 1.7 million young people have left Ukraine since February 2022. He relies on data from the State Border Guard Service and explains that a sharp increase in departures has not been recorded due to traditional factors of autumn activity at the border.