Foreword 3

Acknowledgements 4

Abbreviations and acronyms 9

Executive summary 11

1 Assessment and recommendations 13

Assessment of the situation 14

Assessment and recommendations: Governance 19

Assessment and recommendations: Policy action 26

Summary of the recommendations 37

References 41

Notes 41

2 Ukrainian migration and displacement crisis in numbers 42

Ukraine’s migration experience and mobility patterns before 2022 43

Mass displacement induced by Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine 58

References 68

Annex 2.A. Supplementary tables and figures 73

Notes 74

3 Relevant legal, institutional and policy landscape in Ukraine 75

Legal frameworks 76

Institutional responsibilities and key actors 81

Policy measures since 2022 92

Strategic frameworks 111

References 116

Annex 3.A. Bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of educational documents 120

Annex 3.B. Examples of return support measures open to Ukrainians 121

Notes 123

4 Understanding intentions to return and actual returns: Space for further policy action 125

Intentions to return are shaped by a complex set of factors 126

Do intentions to return truly diminish over time? 131

From intention to decision: What factors actually make individuals return? 136

What can be learnt from returns that already took place? 142

How are returnees doing compared to the non-displaced population and those still displaced? 152

Anticipating returns: How many more Ukrainians might come back from abroad? 168

References 182

Annex 4.A. Data description 186

Annex 4.B. Supplementary tables and figures 188

Annex 4.C. Overview of selected surveys on specific factors influencing return decisions 191

Notes 207

5 International practices in return, reintegration, and diaspora engagement 209

How can international experiences serve Ukraine? 210

International standards, frameworks and principles relevant to voluntary return and reintegration

of displaced persons 211

Measures and policies to support the return and reintegration of displaced persons 214

Measures and policies for working with the diaspora communities 254

References 270

Annex 5.A. Dual residency and transitional towns in Japan 285

Annex 5.B. Go-and-see and come-and-tell visits in Somalia and Syria 287

Annex 5.C. Regional Housing Programme in the Western Balkans 290

Annex 5.D. PROSPECTS Programme in the Middle East and East Africa region 293

Annex 5.E. Diaspora bonds in India, Israel, and Nigeria 298

Annex 5.F. Diaspora returns in Israel 301

Glossary 304