The war in Ukraine has led to forced displacement on a scale and with a speed unprecedented in Europe since the Second World War.
In 2022, there was a clear and urgent need for reliable data on the migration of Ukrainians fleeing the war, and we felt we had to do something without waiting to be asked.
We had data from the UNHCR which focused on population movements and essential fieldwork of journalists and associations, but there was a gap between the two as they mainly focused on describing individual trajectories.
The establishment of Voice of Ukraine enabled us to describe situations at the European level (with a focus on countries like Germany and Poland); documenting migratory flows, detecting new developments; and understanding future projections.
We have a sample that is proportional to the distribution of the population, and the panellists are interviewed across all waves allowing for longitudinal insights. So far, we have completed ten waves. This approach enables us to combine both quantitative and qualitative methods, supported by an exceptional level of commitments from our panellists.
Participants were recruited via social networks, and all data collection is conduced online.
We share data and results to the panellists, and have invited them to a private webinar to communicate findings, explain how insights were used, and create a space for direct discussion between researchers and participants.
The challenges surrounding forced exile have evolved since the start of the war. Initially, the focus was on emergency humanitarian aid. Today, the emphasis has shifted to integration within host countries. Key issues now include the recognition of qualifications, language learning, and employment-based integration, all of which require action at both European and local levels. Mental health has also emerged as a major concern.
Finally, with the potential prospect of a peaceful outcome and the possibility of some refugees to Ukraine, questions arise about how to rebuild connections between those who left and those who remained.