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Most Ukrainians displaced by the war plan to return home when it is safe, research shows
More than 4 million Ukrainians were forced to flee following the invasion of their homeland by Russian forces in February 2022, with the vast majority heading to neighboring countries and other European nations.
language skills and labor market integration, with those whose districts remained occupied by Russians were more likely to invest in their integration due to lower return intentions.
The study authors said, "The success of post-war reconstruction and development efforts in Ukraine will depend crucially on the quantity and quality of the available human capital. The Ukrainian population had been declining even before the Russian invasion, with deaths outnumbering births annually since 1991.
"Furthermore, pervasive corruption and low confidence in the judiciary—underscored by Ukraine's ranking of 104th out of 180 countries in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index—act as deterrents to return migration."
"A critical challenge for Ukraine will be to leverage the common purpose fostered by the war to drive broader institutional and cultural changes. By addressing these challenges, Ukraine can enhance the appeal of returning for refugees and effectively utilize their human capital in the post-war rebuilding process," said Dr. Aksoy and co-authors.