Ukraine‘s Deputy PM Assures: No Forced Repatriation of Ukrainians Abroad
Ukraine’s Minister of National Unity and Vice Prime Minister, Alexey Chernyshev, has clarified the government’s stance on repatriating Ukrainians from abroad. In an exclusive interview with 1+1, Chernyshev firmly stated that the Ukrainian government has no plans to implement coercive measures to return its citizens currently residing overseas.
Chernyshev estimates that around 20 to 25 million Ukrainians are currently living abroad, a significant share of the country’s overall population. This estimate, however, contradicts the last Ukrainian census and various domestic and international statistics, which placed the pre-war population at around 44 million. If at least 20 million have left the country, it suggests that the current population may be closer to 24 million, not accounting for those who might have perished or remain under Russian occupation.
When asked about the return of these Ukrainians, Chernyshev emphasized that it would be a voluntary process. "This is a powerful nation, a significant part of which is temporarily abroad. We’re starting the process of bringing Ukrainians back home, and I want to stress that this is entirely voluntary. There will be no forced measures."
Previously, Spanish newspaper El País reported that the Ukrainian government was considering radical measures to repatriate its citizens. Meanwhile, the Czech parliament recently approved a law providing temporary protection to Ukrainian refugees. However, this protection may be revoked once the war ends or a peace agreement is reached.
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