Internally displaced Ukrainians’ struggle to survive takes some back to Russian occupation

At least 3.5 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine remain internally displaced, according to the UN .

Official data on how many people have returned to Russian occupation is difficult to obtain.

Ukraine ’s government responded to influx of displaced persons by announcing financial assistance, compensation for employers who gave work to IDPs, and partial or full subsidies on cost of living.

As of July 1 , only 2,995 internally displaced people in Ukraine were living in the temporary municipal lodgings, and 13,048 were on the waiting list.

Activists say that the reason behind the long wait times is not the lack of available lodging, but inadequate management at the local and national level.

A 2022 decree mandated that local governments finance and build shelters for the displaced.

Russian authorities said in October that 83,000 Ukrainians entered the country through Sheremetyevo over the past year , while another 24,000 were turned away.

Activists estimate the number of Ukrainians turned away on arrival to be much higher — roughly 200,000 or more.

Others return home to look after ailing relatives.