Ukrainians' motives for traveling abroad have changed: what do we know?

After the outbreak of full-scale war, Ukrainians began to rethink their reasons for going abroad. While the survival instinct used to dominate, today the focus is on long-term prospects, stability and the future of children. Find out more about what sociologists say and what factors most influence the desire to leave the country

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In the context of a full-scale war that has been going on for more than two years, Ukrainians' attitudes toward traveling abroad have undergone significant changes. Volodymyr Vakhitov and Natalia Zaika, Director and Deputy Director of the Institute for Behavioral Studies at American University of Kyiv, spoke about this in an interview with NV.

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From fleeing to planning for the future

At the beginning of the war, most Ukrainians were guided by a basic survival instinct: the main motive was to save themselves and their families without thinking about the long-term consequences. However, now the approaches have changed. According to Natalia Zaika, the focus has shifted to the future - Ukrainians are increasingly assessing their prospects for years to come.

“Will there be economic growth? Will I be able to develop professionally? What does the future hold for my child?” - these are the questions that have become decisive in deciding whether to stay or emigrate. These considerations replaced the panic of the first months of the full-scale war.

Jobs and housing are key factors

Volodymyr Vakhitov, Director of the Institute, emphasized that the desire to leave the country is particularly influenced by employment and housing. If these needs are not met, Ukrainians are more likely to consider emigration as a realistic way to a stable life.

By the way, if you are already seriously thinking about moving or have specific questions about documents, legalization, or temporary protection, you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

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New motives for Ukrainians to leave the country: survey data

According to a poll conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation in cooperation with the Razumkov Center, 21% of Ukrainians said they would like to leave the country if the borders were opened to men. Another 9% are undecided, while 70% of respondents have no plans to leave Ukraine.

The most common reasons for wanting to leave were:

Lack of development opportunities - 30.5%;

Threat to life due to the hostilities - 29%;

Insufficient social support from the state - 29%;

The desire to reunite with family - 26%;

The desire to take out dependent relatives - 23%.

The security factor, of course, remains significant. But nowadays, Ukrainians are increasingly making decisions about emigration based on long-term prospects - their own and their children's. Not only the motive, but also the philosophy of approaching the future has changed.

For those who are already seriously considering moving, it is important to prepare all legal aspects in advance. Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you with this - they provide professional support in matters of migration, residence status, family reunification and legal employment in Europe.

🔔 Don't put off important decisions - contact the specialists today and get a reliable partner on the way to a safe and legal move!

We remind you! In April 2025, Ukrainian migrants in the United States received deportation notices. Later, the Department of the Interior reported that there was a mistake. Read what are the grounds for deportation from the United States and how to avoid violating migration laws in our previous article.

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