8.5 million people have left Ukraine since the start of the war — ombudsman Lubinets

Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets stated that 8.5 million people have left Ukraine since the start of Russian aggression in 2014.

He made the statement at the World Ukrainian Summit.

“We are dealing with staggering figures: according to UNHCR data, more than 5.7 million Ukrainians have gone abroad since 2022, and if counted from the start of Russian aggression in 2014, the number is already 8.5 million. This is a global challenge that requires coordinated action,” — Lubinets said.

According to the ombudsman, the international temporary protection status should remain in effect until active hostilities in Ukraine have ended. This status, Lubinets stressed, should apply first and foremost to vulnerable categories of citizens.

The ombudsman’s office is also developing an overseas instrument in the form of a network of representatives and advisers who consult citizens and help them defend their rights abroad.

Speaking about the conditions for Ukrainians to return home, Lubinets outlined two key requirements.

“We all sincerely want our people to come back, but appeals alone are not enough. Two conditions are needed: reliable international security guarantees and a separate international initiative on housing, without which a mass return will not happen,” — he said.

According to the latest data, more than 4.3 million Ukrainians are benefiting from temporary protection in the EU. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic have taken in the largest numbers of compatriots. The Czech Republic leads in terms of the ratio of refugees to the local population.