Switzerland Deports Ukrainian Refugees: The Story of a Family from Kharkiv at Risk.

According to ТСН: Since the beginning of the war, Switzerland has deported approximately one hundred people from Ukraine to various countries.

A family from Kharkiv, who lived for two years in Geneva, faced the threat of deportation to Lithuania, where they spent only about twenty days.

Olena Bohachuk and her husband, both artists from Kharkiv, worked in the field of art restoration. Olena had never left Ukraine until February 24, 2022. It was difficult to make the decision to leave their home: being six months pregnant, she quickly packed things for herself and her family and left their apartment in a 16-story building in search of a safer place.

“In the scariest moments, when bombings became frequent, we would descend to a small, damp basement,” recalls Olena.

On March 7, 2022, the family set off for Poland and then to Lithuania, where an acquaintance promised help with housing and work. However, after twenty difficult days filled with financial hardships and pressure from locals, they returned to Poland, where Olena gave birth to their daughter Ariana. In January 2024, the family moved to Switzerland.

Upon arrival, the family applied for temporary protection, but it was denied. Switzerland contacted the Lithuanian authorities, who agreed to take them back. The deportation decision for the Bohachuk family was upheld by appellate authorities in January 2025.

The children of the family, 10-year-old Snihana, 8-year-old David, and 5-year-old Diana, speak French fluently. They attend a school near Geneva, and the youngest, Ariana, goes to kindergarten. Olena is actively working on the family’s integration, attending French language courses. The couple intends to find work; currently, they are painting murals.

The family emphasizes that they do not want to return to Lithuania, where they have almost no acquaintances and do not speak the local language. As for returning to Kharkiv, the situation there, due to regular shelling, is absolutely unacceptable for them.

According to information, since the beginning of the war, eight Ukrainians have been deported to countries under the Dublin Protocol, 89 individuals to third countries, and five back to Ukraine. Of the last five, as clarified by the Swiss SEM, three became victims of deportation due to an 'executive order' for offenses in Switzerland.

An increase in refusals for issuing S permits in Switzerland is also expected, as the Federal Council has decided to limit their issuance following a parliamentary vote. Starting November 1, citizens of seven western regions of Ukraine will no longer automatically receive these permits upon arrival in Switzerland. Among these regions is the Ternopil region, where a recent attack resulted in at least 35 deaths.

In conclusion, the situation for Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland remains difficult. Alongside some support, decisions such as deportation and restrictions on permit issuance create additional challenges for those fleeing war in search of a safe place to live.