More than a million Ukrainians have come to Germany since the Russian invasion of their country. The government in Kiev now treats their return as a priority. For this purpose, it is planned to establish so-called “Unity Hubs” in Berlin and later also in other locations.
The facilities “are intended to serve as a contact point for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, offer cultural activities, provide linguistic and cultural education, assist in job search in Ukraine and Germany, and provide advice on voluntary return to Ukraine and contribution to the country's reconstruction,” according to the German Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“A significant number of Ukrainians are seriously considering returning to their homeland,” Oleksiy Chernyshov, Ukrainian deputy head of government, told the German news agency DPA. He heads the Ministry of National Unity, created in December specifically to return refugees.
Ukraine is devastated
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, over 1.1 million Ukrainians fled to Germany – more than to any other country. Among them there are 350,000 children and young people. More than 60 percent of adults are women. Currently, only 32 million people live in government-controlled areas in Kiev. At the time of independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, according to government data, 52 million people lived throughout Ukraine. The government estimates the number of Ukrainians living abroad at 20-25 million.
Chernyshov stated that due to the decline in population, Ukraine will need labor primarily in the arms production sector, energy and in the reconstruction of the country. As he said, these are the ones “critical sectors”. People returning to the country will be exempt from military serviceif they work in the mentioned industries. “If you work at a power plant, you will not be called up. You have a guarantee,” added the minister.
No burden on the government
As he emphasized, those Ukrainians who want to stay in Germany should also receive support in “unity centers” – for example in looking for a job. “They should not be a burden on the government,” Chernyshov said.
According to Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrski, the country's armed forces suffer from a shortage of soldiers. “We need to increase the number of our mechanized brigades accordingly,” Syrski said in a radio interview. “But unfortunately the mobilization capacity is not sufficient to meet this need.”
That's why we started reviewing the rear services, he added. “Within reasonable limits” personnel are currently being withdrawn from logistics, supply and sustainment to fill gaps and create new units, Syrski said.
The commander-in-chief's statement was prompted by complaints from Air Force units regarding demands to withdraw highly qualified personnel from there for deployment to the front.
(DPA, Tagesschau/stef)
The article comes from the website Deutsche Welle.