The forced migration from Ukraine after the full scale Russian invasion: dynamics and decision making drivers

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Russian invasion into Ukraine prompted a large-scale population exodus. The data reveal fluctuating cross-border movements characterized by an initial outflow (February–April 2022), followed by a period of return and stabilization (May–September 2022), then a renewed outflow caused by missile attacks on civilians (October 2022–February 2023), and oscillating migrations during Spring 2023. These oscillations during Spring 2023 are possibly linked to refugees visiting Ukraine for Easter and the activation of border crossings due to the high holiday season that began in late spring. This essay reviews several data sources to address decisions of Ukrainians to relocate. It argues that immobility perspective is crucial to understand the dynamics of migration in Ukraine.KEYWORDS: Forced migrationinternal displacementUkraineRussian–Ukrainian warSUBJECT CLASSIFICATION CODES: J15J17I31 Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 The net migration rate for a given period of time is the difference between the number of border crossing into the country and the number of border crossing out of there.2 The respondents were asked to answer the question: ‘What were the most important decisions you had to make since the beginning of the full-scale war until today?’Additional informationNotes on contributorsIryna MaidanikIryna Maidanik is a senior research fellow in the migration studies department of the Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine. She holds a PhD degree in Sociology. She has around 70 publications, among them – two personal books.