The Berlin-Tegel refugee reception center in Berlin is closing: what will happen to Ukrainians next?

The largest reception center for Ukrainian refugees in Berlin, the former Tegel Airport, is being closed. Find out where people will be relocated, why this decision was made, and what is planned to be built on the site of the center

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The former Tegel Airport in Berlin, which has been the largest reception center for Ukrainian refugees in Germany since the start of russia's full-scale invasion, will soon cease operations. According to DW, local authorities plan to completely close the center and evict residents by the end of 2025, after which large-scale construction of a new urban district will begin on the site of the former airport.

Why is the center in Tegel being closed?

According to Berlin officials, the number of new Ukrainian arrivals in Germany is gradually decreasing. As a result, the need to maintain such a large reception center has disappeared. Instead, the authorities have opted for a different approach — creating smaller, decentralized places of residence, which will allow for an even distribution of the load between the city's districts and provide more comfortable conditions for people.

Senator for Labor and Integration Kanzel Kitsiltepe explained that decentralized accommodation will not only improve living conditions but also facilitate the integration of Ukrainians into local communities. This will help to foster good neighborly relations and better integrate migrants into life in Berlin.

Where are Ukrainian refugees being relocated?

The active relocation of Berlin-Tegel residents began at the end of the summer. Of the more than 5,000 people who once lived on the site of the former airport, about 1,500 Ukrainians remain. They are gradually being transferred to other shelters, including the Tempelhof airport premises and dormitories in various districts of Berlin.

This process is taking place in stages to avoid chaos and ensure that every family has adequate living conditions. For the city authorities, this is also a way to reduce the costs of maintaining large facilities that no longer meet their needs.

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Criticism of conditions at Berlin-Tegel

The center in Tegel has been repeatedly criticized by both human rights activists and the residents themselves. The reasons for this were overcrowding, lack of private space, and difficult living conditions. People lived in temporary accommodation, containers, or even tents — sometimes for several years.

Although the authorities tried to improve the infrastructure and social support, the scale of the problem proved too great. That is why the decision to close the center is considered a logical step towards creating more dignified living conditions for Ukrainians in Berlin.

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What will happen to the former airport site?

The project for a future residential area on the territory of Tegel is already in the preparation stage. The plan is to create a modern, eco-friendly microdistrict with housing, schools, kindergartens, green areas, and office spaces. Active construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.

The place that became a temporary refuge for tens of thousands of Ukrainians will be transformed into one of Berlin's largest urban projects, designed to develop the city in harmony with nature and new technologies.

We remind you! In Germany, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder called on the European Union to restrict the entry of young Ukrainian men and to influence the tightening of border crossing rules. Read about what proposals are being discussed and how the migration situation is changing.

Photo: Emmanuele Contini/IMAGO

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