© AP Photo / Czarek Sokolowski
An increase in the number of recipients of temporary protection over the course of the month was recorded in 22 European Union countries. The most significant increases were recorded in Italy, Germany, and Spain, while a decrease in the number of registered individuals occurred in only a few countries, including Bulgaria and Poland. At the same time , Eurostat notes that sharp changes in the statistics in individual countries may be due to the specifics of national procedures for removing people from the registry, rather than their actual departure.
Ukrainian citizens account for more than 98.4% of all individuals with temporary protection status in the EU. Nearly half of them are adult women (44.6%), another 31.4% are children, while adult men account for 23.9%.
Germany has taken in the most refugees from Ukraine
Germany has taken in the largest number of Ukrainians, with approximately 1.28 million registered there, followed by Poland with 967,500 and Spain with 267,400.
When taking into account the population size of the host countries, the highest concentration of Ukrainians granted temporary protection is observed in Slovakia—26.8 people per 1,000 residents. This is followed by Poland (26.5) and Cyprus (25.9). The EU average is 9.7 people per 1,000 residents.
According to Reuters, in June the Council of the European Union finally approved the extension of the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainian citizens until March 4, 2027. The mechanism, first activated after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, allows Ukrainians to legally reside in EU countries, work, receive education, medical care, and social support without going through the standard asylum procedure.
5.7 million citizens have left Ukraine: what’s next?
At the same time, the European Commission has proposed that member states begin preparing for the future end of the temporary protection regime. Specifically, this involves creating mechanisms for voluntary return to Ukraine once the war ends, as well as the possibility of transferring those who decide to remain in Europe to other legal grounds for residence—for example, through work or student visas.
According to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 5.7 million Ukrainians have left the country since the start of the full-scale war. Ukrainian authorities have previously stated that they expect approximately 30% of citizens who left the country to return, while they estimate that another third may settle permanently abroad.
