Ukrainian war separates families, many now refugees in Europe

Since Russia's full‑scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the conflict in Ukraine has entered its fifth year, with roughly one‑fifth of the country occupied and fighting concentrated in the east and south. About six million Ukrainians have fled westward, seeking temporary protection under the EU’s mass‑migration directive, which has now been extended until 4 March 2027.

Sweden alone hosts around 40 000 Ukrainian war‑refugees, while the largest numbers are in Germany (1.2 million), Poland (1 million) and the Czech Republic (370 000). Most of those displaced are women and children, as men aged 23‑60 are generally barred from leaving unless they meet specific exemptions. The report presents anonymised personal accounts to illustrate how families are split across borders, with relatives remaining in conflict‑affected areas and others rebuilding lives in host countries.