First Ukrainian Unity Hub in Europe opens in Berlin

The first Ukrainian Unity Hub in Europe has opened in Berlin. It was launched by a Ukrainian government delegation led by Denys Uliutin in partnership with the German government. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

This initiative forms part of the Ukrainian state’s systematic policy towards Ukrainians living abroad. More than 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens are currently under temporary protection in EU countries, of whom around 1.2 million are in Germany. Berlin was therefore chosen as the location for the first and largest such hub.

“We must maintain contact with our people abroad and create conditions for their voluntary return home. We plan to open the next hubs in Sweden and Czechia, and later in other countries where the largest numbers of Ukrainians have been displaced by the war,” noted Yulia Svyrydenko.

Since opening, the Berlin hub has already been visited by more than 100 Ukrainians. Services available include support from the Pension Fund of Ukraine, assistance with document processing from the state enterprise “Document”, and help with returning to Ukraine through housing and employment support. For children and young people, there are dedicated programmes, including those run by PLAST (the Ukrainian Scouting Organisation in Berlin). There are also opportunities for education and retraining, including the Tech Hub from Diia.City Union. The hub also features an exhibition art space.

Importantly, the Hub is staffed exclusively by Ukrainian employees.

The Prime Minister thanked the EU Council and the German government for providing the premises and ongoing support, as well as all international and Ukrainian partners who have contributed to the work of the hub.