Two thirds of Ukrainians who are abroad as refugees express their intention to return to Ukraine in the future. According to the results of the survey, it was established that 63% of people who left the country returned home, while 71% chose their hometown, and a quarter settled in other regions of Ukraine. Only 13% do not consider returning. It is noted that only 7% of those who returned intend to go abroad again.
Among the main factors influencing the decision to return are longing for home (58%), for the Motherland (51%), for the family (41%) and the desire of children to return to Ukraine (36%). Also among the reasons are the feeling of loneliness abroad, the desire for children to study in Ukraine, the possibility of usefulness for the country and participation in reconstruction.
Unmarried refugees, those whose parents remained in Ukraine, and those who worked at a distance from Ukrainian companies returned more often. The decision to return was largely determined by emotional factors for 62% of respondents.
The report also indicated that for 84% of respondents, complications in life abroad were a key factor. Lack of housing, problems with employment, deterioration of the level of well-being, low level of medical care, language learning and lack of social ties were indicated as problems.
Regarding the future, residents of western regions are more likely to express their intention to stay abroad, compared to those who had plans to emigrate even before the start of the conflict or whose level of well-being rose abroad.
The statement of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Andrzej Shein deserves special attention, who emphasized the readiness of the Polish authorities for a possible new wave of Ukrainian refugees, if the Russian offensive leads to a shift of the front to the west.
