At the IMRF, Ukraine Presented Its Approach to the Return of Ukrainians Through Housing, Services, and Employment

During a working visit to the United States, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin participated in the Second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), where he took part in thematic roundtables dedicated to return and reintegration, as well as to data, vulnerability, and international cooperation in the field of migration.

The discussions, held in New York City, also brought together representatives of UN Member State governments, international organizations, and expert communities.

During the discussions, the Minister stressed that millions of Ukrainians have left due to security risks, while millions remain internally displaced. At the same time, movement is not linear and depends on how the situation in the country evolves.

"Above all, sustainable return depends on the capacity of systems to receive people, particularly at the community level. Decisions to return are based not only on safety, but on whether people can rebuild their lives – whether there is housing, access to services, schools for children, healthcare, and employment opportunities," said Denys Uliutin.

According to the Minister, Ukraine is already focusing on system building and preparedness for the return of its citizens. In particular, the country is expanding its community-based social services, including Resilience Centres that provide psychosocial support and practical assistance close to where people live.

The state is also strengthening support for internally displaced persons through housing solutions, such as rental subsidies and preferential mortgage schemes, as well as integration into host communities. Importantly, the IDP policy is designed not only for internal integration, but also for future return – including for those who will come back from abroad.

During the discussion on data and international cooperation, Denys Uliutin underlined that one of the main lessons from Ukraine’s experience under war is that migration governance is only as strong as the data and systems behind it.

“When millions of people move in a short period of time – across regions and across borders – decisions have to be made quickly: who needs support, where people are located, what services are required, and how to plan for return. Without reliable and connected data, this becomes guesswork. Ukraine had to build this capacity in real time,” the Minister stressed.

He added that Ukraine continues to develop digital systems and improve state registries even during the war. In particular, these tools are already being used to deliver social support and are gradually being integrated into humanitarian response mechanisms together with international partners.

Background note

The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) is the primary intergovernmental global platform for UN Member States to assess and discuss the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, including its relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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