Millions of Ukrainians continue to be protected within the EU, yet some are returning home. What factors, from increasing living expenses to emotional burdens, are prompting this surprising trend?

In February 2026, 4.40 million non-EU nationals displaced from Ukraine held temporary protection status across the EU.

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This marks a monthly rise of 0.5%, per recent Eurostat figures.

The EU member states hosting the largest numbers of temporary protection recipients from Ukraine included Germany, Poland, and Czechia.

Nonetheless, the number of protected individuals grew in 24 countries, with Germany, Czechia, and Spain experiencing the most significant absolute increases.

Conversely, Estonia, France, and Luxembourg registered declines in their temporary protection populations.

Ukrainian nationals accounted for over 98.4% of those benefitting from temporary protection within the EU by late January 2026.

Among this group, adult women comprised 43.5%, adult men slightly more than 25%, and minors nearly 33%, split into 16% boys and 14.2% girls.

From January to February 2026, the shares of adult women and children receiving temporary protection increased by 1.4 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively.

The remainder of non-EU citizens under this status hailed mainly from Russia (0.3%), Nigeria (0.1%), and Azerbaijan (0.1%).

The European Commission mandates that EU states providing temporary protection must ensure appropriate access to housing or accommodation, social welfare or subsistence means when necessary, medical services, and education for individuals under 18 years old.

Longing for home prompts reconsideration

Despite ongoing risks, over 1.6 million people have returned to frontline zones in Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Sumy regions.

Research by Save the Children indicates that for many, financial pressures in host countries and the yearning for their homeland outweigh dangers associated with returning.

Among 172 surveyed parents and caregivers, 75% reported that missing their home and community, combined with feelings of isolation in the locations where they took refuge, influenced their decision to return to precarious frontline areas with active conflict.

Almost half of these respondents stated that they returned because their children experienced unhappiness, stress, or loneliness in the host communities.

Furthermore, about 55% pointed to the high costs of housing or challenges securing employment in host locations.

“Returning to a war zone is never a decision taken lightly,” said Sonia Khush, Save the Children’s Country Director in Ukraine. “Although relative safety might be found in places they fled to, many struggle financially, being far from their usual income sources and support networks, while deeply missing the communities and relationships they left behind.”