Number of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia decreases

ERR reported the information.

Since the beginning of the war, almost 160,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Estonia, of whom 70,000 have moved from Estonia to other countries. About 90,000 refugees from Ukraine have expressed a desire to stay in Estonia.

Currently, almost 31,000 refugees live in the country under temporary protection.

“This year their number has decreased compared to the beginning of the war. And the number of new people who come to Estonia and want to get protection here has also decreased,” said Liis Valtu, head of the Identification and Status Department of the Police and Border Guard Board.

Since the beginning of the war, many refugees have left through Estonia for other countries, and some have returned home.

“It's hard to say the exact number of refugees who have returned to Ukraine, but we see people who previously received protection and a residence permit from us and left, moved to other countries, lived there for some time or returned home. But there are also those who have returned to Estonia and are applying for a residence permit again. That is, when they see that the situation at home is still difficult, that it is impossible to live there in safety, they return,” Valtu said.

According to her, this number is small, but the country sees “repeat applicants.”

• Anneli Viks, advisor to the Citizenship and Migration Policy Department of the Estonian Interior Ministry, said that the country does not intend to expel Ukrainians of military age with expired passports who may be mobilized at home.