The Center for Ukrainian Unity has opened in Stockholm
The official opening of the Ukrainian Unity Center took place on June 15 in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The new space is intended to serve as a hub for supporting the Ukrainian community, fostering cultural initiatives, and strengthening ties among Ukrainians in Sweden.
The event was attended by Ukraine’s Deputy Ministers of Social Policy, Family, and Unity, Ilona Gavronska and Tetiana Kirienko; Sweden’s Minister for Migration, Johan Forssell; Svitlana Zalishchuk, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden, as well as representatives of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Ukrainian community in Sweden.
In her welcoming remarks, Ilona Gavronska noted that approximately 4.3 million Ukrainians are currently under temporary protection in EU countries, with over 45,000 of them in Sweden. In this context, the opening of the Unity Centers is a necessary step to maintain contact with Ukrainian citizens abroad and provide them with reliable information to make informed decisions about their future.
“We are grateful to the Swedish government for its unwavering support of Ukraine and our people. Today, tens of thousands of Ukrainians in Sweden are studying, working, and raising children, while remaining an integral part of Ukraine. The Unity Hub in Stockholm is designed to help them maintain this connection, receive reliable information, support, and the necessary guidance to plan their future, including a possible return to Ukraine,” said Ilona Gavronska.
As noted, at Unity Hub Stockholm, opened with the support of the Swedish government, Ukrainians will be able to receive informational consultations regarding temporary protection status, issues of residence and integration in Sweden, employment, as well as available support for those considering a return to Ukraine.
In addition to practical support, the Center will serve as a venue for cultural, educational, and community events to strengthen social cohesion among Ukrainians and support their connection to Ukraine.
“Sweden’s support for Ukraine is not only political, military, and economic. It is also support for the Ukrainian people in Sweden. The new Unity Center will be an important meeting place for all Ukrainians who have found refuge in our country,” said Johan Forssell.
ICMPD Director General Susan Raab emphasized that the experience of the Ukrainian displacement has shown how important it is to act quickly and pragmatically and to prepare responses to challenges in line with the actual situation.
Following the official opening, the Center will begin accepting requests for visits. Unity Hub Stockholm will be open to visitors starting June 22. It will operate in a trial mode Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will accept visitors by appointment.
You can schedule an appointment via email. Upon receiving your request, the Center’s team will contact you to confirm the time and provide additional information.
The implementing partner for the Unity Center project in Sweden is the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), which will work in close coordination with the National Unity Agency LLC and in cooperation with the Swedish and Ukrainian sides, according to the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine.
As a reminder, the European Commission has not confirmed reports that Hungary has lifted its veto on €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility, which is earmarked for military support to Ukraine. Officials in Brussels state that they currently have no confirmed information regarding the release of these funds.
Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, has made high-profile statements regarding the situation of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine and the European Union’s future economic relations with the Russian Federation.
