Since the outbreak of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, the civilian population has been in danger. In search of a safe place, residents of Donetsk, Lugansk and other regions went to neighboring countries, including the territory of the Russian Federation.
Reasons why Ukrainian citizens are seeking asylum in Russia
On the territory of the Russian Federation, refugee status is regulated by Federal Law No. 4528-I of February 19, 1993. In accordance with paragraph 1, subparagraph 1, a person may be recognized as a refugee:
- Not a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- A victim of persecution for political, religious, racial or other social reasons.
April 2014 is considered the month of the beginning of clashes, first on the territory of Donetsk, then in the Luhansk region. Statistics confirm the fact that among those wishing to obtain asylum in Russia, the residents of Donbass are the absolute majority. The status is issued to the applicant and each family member individually, and also allows you to legally find employment and arrange children in schools and kindergartens.
It is important to understand that the deteriorating economic situation in the country is not a reason for confirming refugee status. Therefore, if the applicant fails to prove the fact of persecution or the existence of a threat to his life or the life of his relatives, he will not be able to get resettlement. These provisions are enshrined in international documents.
How many refugees in Russia from Ukraine
The Ukrainian conflict is forcing residents to leave previously occupied territories. During this time, Russia has accepted about 2.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons. In 2014, only 115 people received refugee status and 110 applications for temporary asylum were approved for residents of Donbass. The peak period in this regard is 2015. Further, the total number of applications only declined.
When considering the official data, it can be understood that the overwhelming majority of residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics received temporary asylum, but were not recognized as refugees. So in 2015, their total number was 2.5 million. In 2016, the number of approved applications decreased up to 228 thousand, and in 2017 - up to 125 thousand... Thus, there is a steady downward trend in the total number of refugees.
According to experts and officials, at the end of 2019, the number of newly arrived residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics remained at the same level - about 130,000 people, however, a little less than 2,000 were recognized as refugees. This is primarily due to the increased requirements for applicants and an increase in the flow to other states.
For example: neighboring countries of the European Union are much more supportive of accepting citizens who fled from hostilities.
Is an increase in the number of refugees from Ukraine predicted in the near future and why
According to experts, in 2021 one should not count on a sharp decrease in the number of refugees from Ukraine in Russia. Political analysts assess the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the situation in the country extremely low, which means that the flow of migrants is likely to remain at the level of 2019.
You May Also Like
The State Duma has repeatedly raised the issue of simplifying the procedure for issuing documents to persons applying for temporary asylum. If this initiative is approved, the flow of migrants may increase. However, according to experts, the number of newly arrived citizens of Ukraine will not be higher than the thresholds noted in 2015. The main stream of those wishing to obtain asylum in Russia have already taken advantage of this opportunity, so a sharp increase in the number of refugees should not be expected.
At the same time, the situation with obtaining refugee status in practice is different. According to the opinions of the citizens of Ukraine, every year it becomes more and more difficult to get the opportunity to stay in Russia in this status. Decisions in favor of applicants are extremely rare, and the number of refusals has increased dramatically.
Independent human rights activists associate this fact primarily with the total number of migrants from Ukraine. According to rough estimates, there are already about 3 million of them, but not all of them have confirmed refugee status.
A possible simplification of the procedure for confirming refugee status, according to political scientists, will not affect the total number of applications, although it may slightly adjust the indicators.
The situation abroad
In Europe and the United States, the situation with the recognition of Ukrainian citizens, especially residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, is slightly better. The migration services note some stability in the number of applications, but the degree of their approval is higher than in Russia in 2019.
Since the beginning of the military conflict in Ukraine, about 3 million Ukrainians have received asylum. In 2021, the number of applications for temporary asylum decreased slightly compared to the previous year. If the current norms and rules are maintained, the flow of migrants from Ukraine will remain at the same level as in the previous year.
