Most Ukrainians currently living abroad are considering returning home. These are the findings of a study conducted by the analytical center Think Ukraine.
At the same time, the key condition for return remains the end of active hostilities.
Research Findings
- 58.4% plan to return to Ukraine.
- 26.2% are not ready to return.
- 4.5% would prefer to relocate elsewhere, but not to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, only 41.7% of Ukrainians who remain in the country believe that their relatives or friends abroad will eventually come back.
Conditions for Return
- 53.2% — an end to missile and drone attacks
- 41.6% — the signing of a peace agreement
- 27.2% — availability of jobs
- 24.5% — security guarantees (from the U.S., EU, or through NATO membership)
*Respondents could select multiple answers.
What This Means
The decision to return is directly tied to the security situation.
Even if jobs and housing are available, Ukrainians are unlikely to return while the threat of attacks remains. The study also highlights a noticeable perception gap: Ukrainians who stayed in the country are more skeptical about the likelihood of return among those who left.
What Should Be Taken Into Account
Without credible security guarantees, a large-scale return of Ukrainians is unlikely.
Security — rather than economic factors — will be the defining element shaping the pace and scale of return migration.
