Європейський Союз розпочинає депортацію українців, які порушили міграційне законодавство. Повернення торкнуться тих, хто незаконно перетнув кордон, не оформив документи або вчинив правопорушення. Водночас у 2026 році статистика вперше зафіксувала позитивний баланс: до України в’їжджає більше громадян, ніж виїжджає.
Briefly about the main points
- Ukrainians to be deported for violating EU migration rules
- Deportation concerns border crossings outside checkpoints
- There are 4.33 million Ukrainians under temporary protection in the EU
- In 2026, for the first time since the war, there were more entries than exits of Ukrainians
- Ireland prepares payments for Ukrainians to return home
EU announces the return of Ukrainians
Head of the State Migration Service Natalia Naumenko reported that the EU is beginning to return Ukrainians who have violated migration laws. This primarily concerns people who entered the EU outside of checkpoints, those who have not obtained or extended their legal residence documents, and Ukrainians who have committed offences in the EU.
According to Naumenko, in 2025, the number of Ukrainians leaving the EU outnumbered the number of entries - 16.13 million versus 14.77 million. In January-April 2026, the trend reversed: the number of entries was 4.186 million, which is 17,000 more than the number of departures - 4.169 million. This is the first time since the start of full-scale aggression that the dynamics of border crossings have been positive.
How the migration situation of Ukrainians in the EU has changed
The number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU is decreasing, with temporary protection 4.33 million people are currently residing in the country. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic received the largest number of Ukrainians. This indicates a certain stabilisation of the migration flow, although final conclusions will be drawn based on the data for the first half of the year and the full year 2026.
The Irish government is preparing a “generous payments” to Ukrainians for returning home and plans to wind down its refugee accommodation programme. This is part of a broader trend of Ukrainian citizens returning to the country.
What deportation means for Ukrainians in the EU
The categories of Ukrainian citizens who may be deported are clearly defined: those who have crossed the border outside checkpoints, have not obtained documents for legal residence or have committed an offence. This policy is aimed at ensuring compliance with migration rules in the EU countries.
According to Naumenko, the beginning of the trend of Ukrainians returning home is a signal of changes in migration flows. At the same time, she stressed the need to wait for complete statistics for 2026 for a final analysis of the situation.
