By Yana Rudenko
The Ukrainian government is increasingly emphasizing the need to repatriate citizens – the country is facing a massive shortage of labor in the energy, defense and reconstruction sectors. In cooperation with the German authorities, Ukraine plans to establish special “Unity Hubs” to encourage Ukrainian refugees to return home.
Both sides sealed the plan in Munich
The German government is helping Ukraine set up the first hub in Berlin. On February 15, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov and Head of the Federal Chancellery Wolfgang Schmidt signed a declaration to this effect. They signed the document at the Munich Security Conference in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
A point of contact for Ukrainians
The “Unity Hubs” are to serve as a point of contact for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, offering cultural programs, providing language and cultural education, supporting job searches in Ukraine and Germany, as well as advising on voluntary return to Ukraine and participation in the reconstruction of the country. “The ‘Unity Hub’ is also to work with the job center and the Federal Employment Agency to further improve the labor market integration of Ukrainian nationals in Germany,” said a press release from the Federal Ministry of the Interior on January 16.
Support centers
The Unity Hubs for Ukrainians will start operating “in the next few months”. This was announced by the Ukrainian Minister for National Unity, Oleksiy Chernyshov, at a briefing in Prague on January 28. According to the minister, these centers are to be established primarily in the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. “These are not centers of return, but centers of support, unity and communication between Ukrainians and their homeland. They will provide services to support Ukrainians,” emphasized Chernyshov.
Regarding the press releases:
BMI | Unity Hub Berlin
and BMI | Contract Signing Unity Hubs
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