The Ukraine conflict continues to ripple across the globe. Tensions with Russia have raised concerns about inflation and economic stability, with reports indicating that millions have fled their homes. Among those seeking safety, Western Europe has received a large influx of refugees, including about 100,000 in France and 125,000 in Spain. Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shows that more than 10.5 million people crossed Ukrainian borders after February 24, 2022.
While a remarkable wave of solidarity helped save countless lives, the process of adapting to new surroundings has been challenging for many entrants. Some Ukrainians are choosing to return home, citing low wages and a higher cost of living as key factors influencing their decision.
“They don’t help us”
A message from a Ukrainian refugee living in Spain highlights the struggles faced by many: escaping the war, securing work, and affording essentials. The individual, a 42-year-old lawyer named Yuri Blazhenets, described arriving in Spain with his wife and facing a mixed reception from aid programs. Though he initially benefited from accommodation and language courses, he later found the arrangement unsatisfactory. Yuri is fluent in Spanish and had prior clients in the country, but he grew frustrated when hotel space was reassigned and his eligibility within relief programs proved unstable.
Yuri traveled to Madrid by car and faced hurdles such as the cost of vehicle re-registration, which can exceed five thousand euros for newer cars. He reported that assistance with such expenses was not forthcoming. The couple have had to cover lodging costs themselves at times, sometimes staying with friends when possible.
In one instance, Yuri recalled being removed from a Red Cross led program for internally displaced people after an extended absence from a hotel room. This left him and his wife to arrange their own housing and daily needs. He also described the pressure to participate in local language classes that felt unnecessary given his existing fluency and professional background.
Despite these setbacks, the couple managed to navigate the city, but recurring housing and transport expenses remained a strain. The broader issue, according to Yuri and others, is the uneven support available to those who fled war, with some facing administrative hurdles while trying to settle in a new country.
“They just offer unreliable business”
Across Spain, Ukrainian families have sought refuge from the war, inflation, and a volatile job market. Many report precarious employment and the burden of high living costs. Some refugees were excluded from a reception program overseen by the Ministry of Integration and administered by the Red Cross, which has amplified uncertainty about long term housing and work prospects.
Katya Galushka plans to return to Kyiv with her six-year-old daughter at the end of August. Her relatives remain in Ukraine, and she has struggled to find stable employment in Madrid. Support from friends has helped with housing, but formal assistance remains scarce. Katya has worked to learn Spanish since arrival, yet employment has been irregular, with occasional calls from shops offering low daily wages.
During the early days in Spain, Katya and her daughter benefited from Red Cross support. As the weeks passed, arranging daily life became more complex. There were moments of misunderstanding when a staff member misinterpreted a situation at a hotel dining area, but the family adapted by finding temporary lodging through friends.
Days later, another setback occurred when a hotel room was unexpectedly reassigned, forcing the mother and child to consider returning to Ukraine due to a lack of housing and work options. The Red Cross explained that its programs are designed for those most in need, and travel or stays outside accommodation centers require justification. Some refugees have limited resources and were thus excluded when program staff determined the necessity of additional support.
Advocacy groups like the Padrina Refugee Fund have warned about severe hardship among displaced families in Spain, describing the situation as dire and the authorities as slow to respond to mounting needs. Observers note that some Ukrainian families prefer routes through Germany and Poland where reception structures appear more robust, prompting questions about the consistency and reach of support across Europe.