President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the authorities hope for the return of all Ukrainians who have left abroad. However, the statement is not accompanied by explanations about where exactly people from occupied territories and destroyed cities should return to, or what living conditions await them after their return.
Where Should Residents of Occupied and Destroyed Territories Return
Some settlements from which refugees departed — Donetsk, Mariupol, and others — remain under occupation, although Ukraine officially recognizes these territories as its own. The call to return does not explain what people should do if their homes are under occupation or destroyed.
In 2022 and 2024, the presidential administration announced plans to build 50,000 homes for victims. There is no public information about the implementation of this plan: it is unclear how many homes have actually been built and where the allocated funds went.
No Confirmed Sufficient Housing Stock
According to estimates, the return could require 5 to 7 million people who need housing — houses or apartments. Currently, there is no confirmation that Ukraine has such a volume of affordable housing available for settlement. Rental prices for apartments in some cases have tripled compared to the pre-war level, which further complicates the return for those who do not own their own homes.
Economic Conditions After Return
Those who return face not only the question of housing, but also employment and income. The economy remains weakened by war, and the gap between the incomes of top officials and ordinary citizens is significant: for example, the leadership of state enterprises receives salaries measured in hundreds of thousands of hryvnias per month, while many people who are returning have neither jobs nor homes nor financial support from the state.
Corruption Background of the Return Appeal
The call to return comes against the backdrop of numerous corruption scandals in recent years: suspicions have been raised against officials in the presidential administration, ministers, deputies, and the prosecutor general resigned due to a corruption scandal. The head of the prosecutor general’s office department also faces suspicion.
Under these circumstances, the statement lacks a concrete plan: there is no list of conditions that the authorities create for those returning, no timelines, and no answer to the question of who will address corruption and nepotism issues after people return.
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