Money isn’t everything. Which of the refugees will be the first to return to Ukraine after the war?

One of the motivations for refugees to return to Ukraine may be the desire to restore their lost social status. A high salary may not be as important.

This was stated in an interview with RBK-Ukraine by researcher Alexey Poznyak from the Institute of Demography and Social Studies.

"It may play a role that some migrants will return who value their past career achievements. These are individuals who held prestigious jobs in Ukraine, and few can find similar positions abroad," he said.

The expert believes that "most jobs offered there are quite simple."

"The feeling of a decline in social status is a very serious blow, including psychologically. The opportunity to restore this status even with lower earnings could also be a motivation for return," Poznyak added.

He noted that while earnings in Ukraine are lower, prices are generally also lower than in EU countries. "Purchasing power is still not the same as salary," he stated.

At the same time, he reminded of a general migration pattern: the longer the migration lasts, the less likely a larger proportion of migrants will return. "This is a factor that has existed throughout all times for all peoples," Poznyak said.

Recall that the majority of surveyed Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic (66%) are somewhat or fully satisfied with their current living conditions in the new country.

Respondents were asked under what conditions they would return to Ukraine. More frequently, respondents mentioned the normal operation of critical infrastructure (34%) and safety (34%). Following that are housing issues (26%) and the conclusion of the full-scale invasion (26%). Fewer respondents mentioned the possibility of finding work (16%) and conditions for children to attend school/kindergarten (13%).