Ministry of Social Policy explains what Ukrainian refugees should do after temporary protection expires

After the EU Temporary Protection Directive expires, Ukrainians who continue to need support can transition to national mechanisms.

This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by Ilona Havronska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity.

"Temporary protection is, in essence, a mechanism that has made it possible to accept many people very quickly, relieve the burden on national bureaucratic systems, and at the same time ensure basic rights: residence, access to the labor market, medicine, and education. The initial logic is as follows: after the temporary protection expires, people who continue to need support can transition to national mechanisms, just like other residents of this country," Havronska said.

For example, she said, a person with a disability, after the end of temporary protection, should apply to the relevant social services and receive support within the general social protection system of that country, on an equal footing with others.

“The same applies to legal residence: if a person works, studies, has family reasons (for example, one of the spouses already has legal status), they can switch to the relevant national regimes. Or take advantage of the opportunity to voluntarily return to Ukraine – the Voluntary Return Program,” the deputy minister added.

As reported by Ukrinform, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU activated the so-called Temporary Protection Directive, which gave Ukrainians fleeing Russian bombs the right to legally reside in the EU and receive basic social services, including healthcare, education, and the right to employment.

In June this year, the EU Council of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs adopted a political decision to extend until March 4, 2027 the EU Directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens.