Looking at the Displacement of the People of Ukraine on the 1-Year Anniversary of the Russian Invasion

February 23rd, 2023, will mark the 1-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This conflict has affected many parts of the world in some way, but none more so than Ukraine itself. The citizens of Ukraine, in particular, have felt the consequences of the war. They have faced—and continue to face—a dire struggle to find safety, both within their country and across international borders. This has led to many of them being displaced from their homes. In this article, we’ll examine the displacement of the Ukrainian people over the last year.

The Displacement of the People of Ukraine

According to the International Office of Migration (IOM), there have been nearly 15 million Ukrainians who have been displaced in some way due to the Russian invasion—about one-third of the entire country. Of those, over 8 million are refugees spread throughout other European countries, while 6.5 million are still internally displaced within Ukraine.

The displacement of the Ukrainian people has had a profound impact on their lives, leaving many without access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and medical care. Many have been forced to flee their homes with little or no warning, leaving behind their lives and everything that they own. The displacement has also separated families, with some members being forced to flee to different parts of the country, or even across international borders. This has made it incredibly difficult to maintain contact and support each other.

Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in makeshift settlements or overcrowded housing, struggling to make ends meet. The lack of stability and uncertainty about their future has also taken a toll on their mental health, with many reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression and about 25% of citizens at risk of developing severe mental health conditions.

The situation has been further exacerbated by Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure—mainly housing and energy. It’s estimated that around 40% of Ukraine’s power systems have been damaged by Russian air raids. 

This damage has been compounded by winter weather and below-freezing temperatures, furthering the humanitarian crisis in the country. Certain areas of Ukraine are housing tens of thousands of displaced people, all while Russian forces are targeting energy and housing, endangering all the civilians taking refuge in these areas. During the last year of conflict, there have been over 7,100 confirmed civilian deaths and over 11,600 injuries.

The Ukrainian people desperately need help from individuals, agencies, organizations, and countries in order to find refuge and safety. Since the beginning of the war, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) has set up several projects to support displaced Ukrainians. These include providing emergency food and medicine, supporting the salaries of psychologists and social workers assisting internally displaced Ukrainians, and training seminarians to identify individuals suffering from trauma and refer them to qualified mental health specialists.

Along with the Pope and our members, we are also encouraging a ceasefire so that negotiations toward a peaceful resolution may take place. As long as the conflict resumes, we continue to call for humanitarian corridors so civilian populations can escape to safety. With our members, the national Catholic Bishops Conferences worldwide, we also promote the establishment of Temporary Protection Measures so that refugees are admitted to countries where they are seeking protection.

We rely on generous donations to continue our critical work, so consider making a donation to help make a difference in the lives of Ukrainian refugees today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.