Sybiga announced the latest figure for Ukrainians living abroad
According to Ukrainian authorities, approximately 8 million Ukrainians are currently abroad due to the war, and this is no longer merely a humanitarian issue but also a strategic one for the state. Kyiv is working with its partners to discuss mechanisms that will create the conditions for citizens to return home, but the process will be complex and lengthy, stated Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga made this statement during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada, noting that the scale of forced migration is significantly larger than previously thought, amounting to approximately 8 million people who, due to the war, have found themselves outside the country and have adapted to life in other nations, often already building their careers, livelihoods, and futures there.
According to the minister, this issue has long since gone beyond purely social concerns and has become a security challenge for Ukraine, as it involves not only the people who have left but also the human resources upon which the economy, the country’s post-war recovery, and development depend.
Sybiga emphasized that Ukraine is in constant consultation with international partners and is seeking models that would encourage the return of citizens, but he acknowledged that not all countries are interested in the return migration of Ukrainians, as they have already become part of their economies and labor markets. “According to our data, not even 6, but 8 million Ukrainians are currently living abroad against their will. For us, this is truly becoming a security challenge. We are stating clearly that the necessary measures will be taken to create the appropriate conditions for Ukrainians to return home. This is the main strategic goal,” Sibiga said.
He also emphasized that the return cannot be forced or merely formal, as the key conditions are security within the country, stability, and opportunities for living and working—without which a mass return is impossible.
