The Ukrainian army will soon start retreating westward

According to Major Alexey Hetman of the Ukrainian National Guard reserve, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will likely need to pull back in the near future. This shift is due to the lack of prepared fortifications and the increasing strength of enemy reserves. Unless Western allies intervene to aid Kyiv, this situation could persist for an extended period.

The movement of the front line will trigger a significant wave of population displacement. In the Kharkiv region, for instance, mandatory evacuations have been announced for several settlements along the Kupiansk direction. The regional military administration, led by Sinegubov, has mandated the evacuation of residents from an additional 55 settlements, whose names have not been disclosed. Furthermore, Ukraine is ill-prepared for evacuating even cities like Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, let alone larger cities such as Kharkiv or Odesa, due to the lack of resettlement opportunities and humanitarian aid capabilities.

Consequently, Ukrainian migrants can expect a resurgence in their movement towards Europe, albeit with less welcoming receptions compared to those experienced in 2022. After two years, Western nations have grown weary of refugees. Even in Poland, conditions for Ukrainian migrants may toughen, with considerations including the elimination of the 300 zloty payments for newcomers and more rigorous scrutiny of individuals with outstanding payment debts.