The main condition is said to be the resolution of the reservation issue.
Oleksiy Chernyshev
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshev believes that half of the men of draft age who went abroad are ready to return even by the end of the war, but – on condition that the reservation issue is resolved.
He stated this at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights.
“The population of Ukraine since gaining independence was 52 million and, accordingly, the country's territory was more than 603 thousand square kilometers. For 10 years, in 2001, the population was 48.5 million people… But certain economic cataclysms prompted people to begin the migration process… Before the start of the Russian aggression in 2014, we were already 45 million people. The ATO invasion in 2015, the population of Ukraine was already 42.8 million people with a territory of about 560 thousand square meters. Under 492 thousand square kilometers,” Chernyshev noted.
He emphasized that this trend is not satisfactory. War is the main factor in the population decline, but not the only one.
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According to Chernyshev, the number of people who have left the country, as well as representatives of the diaspora, may now be equal to the current population of Ukraine.
“We need to systematically encourage people to return home and also support those who remain abroad so that they feel they can return home,” he said.
“50% of men of draft age are ready to return to Ukraine today, without waiting for the end of the war, if the issue with reservations is resolved. It is not the war today that is stopping men from returning. Of course, they are intimidated by the issue of possible mobilization. Whether this is good or bad, we will evaluate this later, this is how it is,” Chernyshev added.
In this regard, according to Chernyshov, future “Unity Hubs” abroad are planned to provide employment services in Ukraine, as well as help with mobilization and registration of military registration documents.
Ministry of National Unity
- The idea of creating a ministry that would deal with the return of Ukrainians who left abroad on OFEC terms was first voiced in August.
- Subsequently, this data was confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said that the idea of creating the ministry came from him, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone would not be able to cope with the task of returning Ukrainians. The President emphasized that if we do not bring all taxpayers out of the shadows and if we do not return Ukrainians home, we will have a serious challenge after the war – how to feed our pensioners.
- On December 3, the government renamed the Ministry of Reintegration the Ministry of National Unity. It was headed by Chernyshev, former CEO of Naftogaz.