Temporary no longer: Ukrainian refugees in Poland confront the long term

One year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians have chosen to remain in Poland, despite the Ukrainian president's plea for their return. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Ukraine needs its refugees back to rebuild the country, stating that they need 9.5 million people who lost their homes to come back. However, the majority of Ukrainian refugees in Poland are now deferring or abandoning thoughts of return.

Many Ukrainians who fled to Poland in 2022 hoped to return home by the same year, but this has proven difficult due to ongoing conflict and logistical challenges. A large proportion of Ukrainian refugees in Poland live in poor conditions, with limited access to adequate housing, employment opportunities, and basic amenities. While Poland has taken steps to assist Ukrainian refugees, providing them with identification numbers and enrolling them in housing and benefit systems, the country has limited resources to support their return.

Ukraine's efforts to encourage refugee return have been limited and haphazard, with a single deputy minister and 150 million hryvnia (€3 million) in the state budget allocated for this purpose. Ukraine has established "Unity Hubs" in other European countries, but none have been opened in Poland. The country is still recovering from the long-term consequences of the war, facing demographic challenges, a shortage of workers, and ongoing security threats.

Consequently, Ukraine cannot compel its refugees to return, leaving many in a state of limbo, torn between their desire to live in their homeland and the practical difficulties of doing so.