Ukrainian refugees migrating from Poland to Germany – experts explain why

Following the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a significant number of Ukrainians left for Poland and after a certain time went to other countries, in particular to Germany. Some of the factors that encouraged refugees to move from Poland to Germany is friends and family in Germany. Also, refugees who moved from Poland say that they were attracted to better social benefits and health care in Germany.

Thus, there were about 150,000 Ukrainian citizens in Germany before the full-scale invasion, and after the full-scale invasion, as of now, the number of Ukrainians living in the country has increased to 1.1 million.

These figures were announced during the presentation of the results of a survey conducted in August 2023 by the EWL Migration Platform and the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

During the survey presentation at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform, Margarita Sytnyk, spokesperson of the EWL Migration Platform, reported that almost 59% of the Ukrainian refugees in Poland, who did not have a job and could not find one, moved to Germany. And, according to her, every third person in Germany already has a job, and there is a large number of those who plan and want to find work.

In addition, she noted that the results of the survey show that Ukrainians are primarily encouraged to stay in Germany because of good work opportunities. Almost 60% of Ukrainian refugees have given this answer.

“That is, a job is important for Ukrainians living in Germany. And these are not the only Ukrainians benefiting from the social welfare that Germany provides to the Ukrainians, as well as German citizens, but work is an important factor for the Ukrainians. But every third Ukrainian currently living in Germany is ready to stay if social benefits are prolonged, or if there is state assistance with housing, the opportunity of reunification with family and because of a relationship,” added Margarita Sytnyk.

We would like to note that the survey “From Poland to Germany. New Trends in Ukrainian Refugee Migration” was conducted in August 2023 by the EWL Migration Platform, the EWL Foundation, and the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw and commissioned by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland. It was conducted among 400 Ukrainian citizens who came to Poland after the outbreak of war, received temporary protection status in Poland, and then left for Germany.

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