Those who left Russia due to the war in Ukraine are returning en masse. Reverse migration is stimulating the economy of the Russian Federation

Citizens who left Russia at the beginning of the war are returning, thereby bolstering its military economy.

This is reported by Bloomberg agency.

In the first year of the invasion of Ukraine, about a million people left Russia. Now, thousands are returning home, facing refusals when extending residency permits, difficulties in transferring work and money abroad, and overall unfriendly attitudes.

“No one is particularly waiting for us,” say the returning Russians.

Bloomberg agency confirmed the Kremlin’s stated statistics that half of those who left in 2022 have already returned to Russia.

Moscow actively uses their return stories as evidence of “Russophobia” in the West. Additionally, it helps Russia withstand sanctions. According to Bloomberg Economics’ estimates, reverse migration likely contributed to Russia’s economic growth by 0.7-1.2% in 2023.

Estimates of the number of people leaving Russia (mostly due to mobilization) varied greatly. Media reports cited figures ranging from 545,000 departed citizens to 700,000, a million, and so on.