65% of Ukrainians in Berlin: We'll stay forever!

65% of Ukrainians in Berlin: We'll stay forever!

The shocking turnaround in Berlin: 65 percent of Ukrainian refugees in the capital plan to stay forever! What began as a temporary refuge in the Tegel emergency shelter is now developing into a long-term stay, a survey shows. Interest in German courses and the search for jobs are increasing rapidly. "We're staying here. We're settling in," says an overwhelming majority, according to Mark Seibert, head of the State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF).

The brutal war continues to rage: Since February 2022, Russia has been waging a war against Ukraine that violates international law, forcing many people to flee to Berlin. The exact number of Ukrainians in Berlin remains unclear, but it is estimated to be between 50,000 and 60,000. The LAF is currently looking after around 9,000 of them in its accommodation, including 3,000 in Tegel. But many have already secured a roof over their heads privately or have been taken in by helpful Berliners.

Looking for a job rocks the emergency shelter

The job fairs in Tegel are bursting at the seams, the crowds are huge: the Ukrainian refugees are determined to stand on their own two feet and rebuild their lives beyond the war. “The picture is rotating,” notes Seibert, describing people’s enormous will to integrate into society.

With a different residence status than asylum seekers, these people have far more options: They are allowed to work and receive support, from health care to citizen's benefit. A life worth living in Berlin – for many Ukrainians a real chance for freedom and a future.