[70581] Demographic turnaround: For the first time since the outbreak of the war, more Ukrainians are returning home than leaving

A trend change at the borders: Ukrainians are returning to their homeland

For the first time since the outbreak of the full-scale war, a reversal in migration trends has been recorded in Ukraine. According to ТСН новини / ТСН.ua, the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS) reports a "positive dynamic" in border crossings, with the number of citizens entering the country exceeding the number of those leaving.

According to official data released by the head of the Migration Service, Natalia Naumenko, in an interview with 24 Канал | Новини України (which maintains a distinct pro-Ukrainian line), during the first four months of 2026, 4.186 million citizens entered Ukraine, while 4.169 million left. The gap, which stands at 17,000 net entries, constitutes a significant improvement compared to 2025, when a deficit of 1.36 million people in favor of departures was recorded.

The key factors for this change, as reported on 24 Канал, include:

• Stabilization of the energy system: Improvement in electricity supply and infrastructure.


• Resource exhaustion: Economic difficulties faced by refugees in host countries.


• European programs: The impact of aid programs that encourage the voluntary return of refugees to their country.

Additional channels such as UA Stream note that this is a "paradox" occurring for the first time since 2022, indicating a shift in the sense of security or the ability to subsist within Ukraine, in complete contrast to previous periods of mass migration outward.