IDPs/Illustrative photo
As of January 31, approximately 4.3 million individuals who fled Ukraine due to the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation have been granted temporary protection status in the European Union, according to recent data released by Eurostat.
The main EU countries providing temporary protection to Ukrainians include Germany (1.27 million people, 29.5% of the total), Poland (951,560 people, 22.1%), and the Czech Republic (381,190, 8.9%).
«Compared to the end of December 2023, the largest absolute increase in the number of beneficiaries was observed in Germany (+18,905; +1.5%), the Czech Republic (+8,155; +2.2%), and Spain (+2,830; +1.5%)», — Eurostat noted
However, in five EU countries, the number of beneficiaries decreased, namely Italy (-18,125 people; -11.2%), Poland (-3,235; -0.3%), Estonia (-225; -0.6%), France (-205; -0.3%), and Luxembourg (-10; -0.2%), according to Ukrinform
As of January 31, 2024, Ukrainian citizens constituted over 98% of the beneficiaries of temporary protection. Adult women accounted for nearly half (46.1%) of the recipients, children for just over a third (33.2%), while adult men made up just over a fifth (20.7%) of the total.
Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, the EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive, granting Ukrainians fleeing the conflict the right to legally stay in the EU and access basic social services, including healthcare, education, and employment rights. Over four million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, have benefited from temporary protection in the EU. This directive is valid until March 2025, with the possibility of extension.