Ukrainians Fleeing Turkey. Ambassador Released Data.

Currently, there are 24,000 Ukrainians in Turkey, which is a significant decrease compared to 2022, when there were 840,000. Most Ukrainians have returned home, while others have moved to European countries. This was reported by Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bondar during a discussion within the framework of the project "New Country" about justice as a tool for state development.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of involving Ukrainians abroad in public events and noted that the war has become a unifying factor rather than a divisive one. There are 22 Ukrainian communities in Turkey that actively support their country.

Overall, there are about 20 million Ukrainians in the diaspora, so it is necessary to find ways to engage them in supporting Ukraine. The ambassador suggested that the law on multiple citizenship could be one of the tools, and also stressed the importance of active participation of Ukrainians abroad in activities countering Russian propaganda.

The ambassador also cited an example of an open day at the embassy, where Ukrainians had the opportunity not only to receive consular services but also to gather together.

Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya noted that the country's authorities are preparing to implement a project for fingerprint collection upon entry into the country. Another one of their new projects is the chipping of individuals receiving temporary protection status, including Syrians. Yerlikaya explained that the relevant Turkish authorities have already started printing IDs, and thanks to the chipping system, they cannot be forged.