Since the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian War on February 24, 2022, nearly one million Ukrainians have fled to Germany, where they have been registered as refugees.
Following an information request, Germany’s Federal Interior Ministry, headed by Nancy Faeser (SPD), released figures last week that revealed 967,288 Ukrainians—83% of whom are women and children—have been recorded in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals since the war began six months ago, broadcaster N-TV reports.
The proportion of Ukrainian refugees who are women and children stands in stark contrast to hundreds of thousands of so-called ‘asylum seekers’ that Europe received during the migrant crisis of 2015-2016, most of whom were young adult males, according to a study published by Pew Research, a non-partisan Washington D.C-based think tank. Men aged 18 to 60 are forbidden from leaving Ukraine and are expected to serve in the military in some capacity.
The interior ministry points out, however, that it remains unclear just how many Ukrainian refugees still reside in the country. “A significant number may have already traveled to other EU countries or returned to Ukraine,” a spokesperson for the federal interior minister said.
In its report, the ministry also notes that 82,000 Ukrainians have attended or are presently attending integration courses, which, in addition to teaching language skills, seek to impart knowledge of Germany’s legal system, history, and culture
Per the latest data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), last updated on August 23rd, a total of 6,865,625 Ukrainian refugees have “registered for temporary protection or similar national protection schemes” across Europe.
