Status Characteristics and Peculiarities of Accommodation of Ukrainian War Refugees in Germany (Konstanz)

Abstract

The crisis of forced migrants from Ukraine due to the war became one of the biggest in Europe in the 20th–21st centuries. A large increase in the number of refugees due to the war in Ukraine occurred after the start of the active phase of hostilities on February 24, 2022. Germany remains one of the countries that received the largest number of forced migrants from Ukraine. It is relevant to study the living conditions, employment, lifestyle, leisure time, well-being and future plans of forced migrants from Ukraine in Germany (using the example of the city of Konstanz). We conducted an exploratory web survey: respondents were interviewed using a formalized questionnaire with a series of open-ended questions implemented on the LimeSurvey online platform. Based on the results of the analysis, the main problems faced by Ukrainian refugees in the city of Konstanz were identified: living conditions and the lack of places in kindergartens. Both problems are characteristic of this city for many years before the war in Ukraine. Among the main features that distinguish forced migrants from Ukraine in connection with the war is a large share of highly qualified persons and persons with completed higher education. Plans for further stay in Germany or return to Ukraine deserve special attention – almost half of the respondents said that they plan to stay in Germany forever, and almost all the rest - to return to Ukraine as soon as it becomes possible. This information also brings new challenges for the country's migration policy and needs further discussion. In addition, a high sensitivity to questions about the property and financial status in Ukraine before the start of the Russian attack in 2022 was revealed.