Stay put or go home? The difficult choice facing Ukrainian refugees in Germany

The conflict in Ukraine has entered its third year.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), more than 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge both within Ukraine and beyond over the past two years. 

More than a million of them are living under temporary protection in Germany.

According to the director of the IFO Center for Migration Research in Munich, Panu Poutvaara, pessimism among Ukrainian refugees over when the conflict will end is growing - yet still the majority want to go back.

"When it comes to return intentions, we have run together with a public polling company a big survey of Ukrainian refugees who have come to Europe starting spring of 2022," said Poutvaara. "Most Ukrainians want to go back to Ukraine at latest when it's safe. Only 10 percent say they want to settle permanently outside of Ukraine."

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Their ability to integrate into their host countries varies greatly and has an impact on those thoughts of returning.

Poutvaara says the majority living in eastern Europe and even some western European countries are in employment. But that is not the case in Germany.

"Part of the explanation for this," he tells CGTN, "is that in Germany it's more difficult to find some jobs without qualifications and without good German skills, and given that Germany has more generous welfare benefits people can afford taking more time looking for a qualified job."

In Germany, Ukrainian refugees have access to the same social benefits and health care that regular residents do. A non-working adult, also receives roughly $550 per month with additional benefits for any accompanying children.

Yet Germany is also benefiting from the skilled workers coming from Ukraine.

Thirty-three-year-old Kateryna, an intensive care nurse, fled the southern city of Berdyansk with her nine-year-old son nearly two years ago, after life became too difficult for her.

"When I first arrived in Germany," she shares, "I was immediately told that there is a very large shortage of nurses in Germany. And that my profession is in great demand here."

The NGO Space-Eye, based in the Bavarian city of Regensberg, helped her find accommodation and connected her with a local hospital where she is now working while learning German.

"This program is good," says Kateryna, "because we are already working in the hospital. We are not working as full-time nurses yet, of course, because we need to confirm our diploma, but we see how work is organized in Germany. We can also communicate with patients and colleagues in German, thereby improving our German and learning it faster."

Her son is also going to a German school while taking Ukrainian classes in the evenings. "He enjoys going to school and goes to clubs at school too," explains Kateryna. "There are various clubs and swimming and handball and chess, and he goes and socializes."

This will likely lead to the younger generation wanting to remain in their host countries, says Poutvaara.

"I find it likely that when it comes to children who are currently going to schools, an even higher fraction of them will end up staying."

This integration into German life has definitely had an impact on Kateryna and her son's thoughts about staying.

She says: "At first, when we arrived here, we were very depressed. When I started working, I felt hope. I started setting goals for myself. I began to strive for something and, of course, Germany naturally provides such a chance. My son said that he doesn't want to go back. He wants to stay here, so now I'm only thinking about confirming my diploma and trying to stay here. We will do our best to stay and integrate fully."

Kateryna, like all refugees are forced to flee their homeland, still has family back in Ukraine. Whether they will be able to join her in Germany one day, or she visit them, is unclear. What is clear is this conflict, now in its third year, has already had a huge impact on towns and cities right across Europe.

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