More than 5.7 million Ukrainian citizens have been forced to flee abroad due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian parliament’s commissioner for human rights, shared the figures on World Refugee Day, noting that the total number of displaced citizens since the start of Russian aggression in 2014 has reached 8.5 million.
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“Behind this number is an experience that divided the lives of millions into ‘before’ and ‘after,’” Lubinets stated, thanking the countries and communities that have provided shelter to Ukrainians.
Temporary protection and return conditions
Lubinets emphasized that the international status of temporary protection remains the primary legal mechanism for safeguarding Ukrainian citizens abroad. He argued that this framework must remain active until combat operations within Ukraine conclude, prioritizing vulnerable categories of citizens.
While the Ukrainian government anticipates the eventual return of its citizens, Lubinets outlined two necessary conditions for mass repatriation: ensuring safety from aerial and ground threats, and restoring functional infrastructure.
The Ombudsman also raised concerns regarding the forced removal of Ukrainian children by foreign municipal authorities in European host countries. Citing a recent case in Italy, where local authorities placed a Ukrainian child under the custody of foreign nationals, Lubinets reminded international partners that international humanitarian law prohibits the adoption of children from countries engaged in ongoing war.
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EU debates protection mechanism
The Ombudsman’s statements coincide with ongoing discussions within the EU regarding the future of the temporary protection mechanism. During a recent meeting of EU justice and interior ministers, member states broadly supported extending the framework until March 2028, but opinions diverged on the specific conditions.
According to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, the Ukrainian government has requested that the EU consider restricting or excluding military-age men – specifically those aged 23 to 60, who fall within Ukraine’s mobilization parameters – from the protection programs.
Germany, Poland, and Sweden favor enacting tighter restrictions on military-age Ukrainian men. Austria has proposed ending automatic protection for this demographic as early as March 2027.
Estonia and Luxembourg oppose major revisions and advocate for extending the system under its current conditions.
The European Commission is preparing to publish its formal legislative proposal regarding the extension and potential modifications of the protection regime.
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