More than 4 million Ukrainians have been temporarily sheltered in EU countries due to the war

As of September 30, 2024, 4 million 197.37 thousand citizens who fled Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, had temporary protection status in the EU, compared to 4 million 163.66 thousand citizens a month earlier. The state budget for the next year provides UAH 150 million for their support and return.

This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine with reference to Eurostat.

"Compared to the end of August 2024, the largest absolute increase in the number of recipients was observed in Germany (+7,005; +0.6%), Poland (+4,645; +0.5%) and Spain (+3,170; +1.5%)," the agency said.

It is noted that the number of beneficiaries decreased in France (-570; -0.9%) and Italy (-10; -0.0%).

Thus, in September, the growth in the number of refugees from Ukraine with temporary protection status slowed to 33.7 thousand from 39.8 thousand in August.

According to Eurostat, despite Germany's deprivation of almost 237 thousand people of this status in July, it still remains the country with the largest number of such refugees in the EU and the world - 1 million 129.34 thousand at the end of September, or 26.9% of the total number of beneficiaries in the EU. The top three countries are also Poland - 979.84 thousand, or 23.3%, and the Czech Republic - 378.48 thousand, or 9.0%.

According to updated UNHCR data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe as of October 15 this year was estimated at 6.192 million, and in the world as a whole at 6.752 million, which is 38 thousand and 27 thousand more than as of September 24 this year.

In Ukraine, according to the latest UN data as of August this year, there were 3.669 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), which is 121 thousand more than in April this year.

Meanwhile, according to the press service of the Ministry of Finance, in the draft law on the State Budget for 2025 approved for the second reading, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 150 million to support Ukrainian refugees abroad and return them home.

In the updated version of the draft state budget, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has been allocated an additional UAH 488.4 million, of which UAH 200 million is allocated for strategic communications projects and promotion of Ukraine's positive image abroad.

"Separately, UAH 150 million is provided to support Ukrainians abroad and facilitate their return to Ukraine through the activities of the Agency of Ukrainian Unity under the Ministry of Economy," the Ministry of Finance said.