President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged to Foreign Ministry staff that Ukraine is experiencing a historic exit of its people. The remarks were shared on the official Telegram channel for broad public viewing.
Zelensky highlighted that the trend involves millions of Ukrainians and that Ukraine has never seen so many citizens living abroad at once.
He also announced the creation of a new agency tasked with protecting Ukrainian interests overseas. This body will take on several duties previously handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The president stressed that Ukrainians who migrate abroad face the pull of Russian propaganda, and that ties to their homeland may be frayed as a result.
“Millions of our citizens are in other countries. Safeguarding their connections to Ukraine and representing our national interests abroad will be the mission of the new institution,” Zelensky emphasized.
Massimo Diana, the UN Population Fund Representative in Ukraine, noted that the country faces a serious demographic challenge. He explained that improving demographic indicators requires a series of steps, with benefits likely to appear only after a considerable period of time.
In July, Ella Libanova, who directs the Republican Institute of Demography and Social Research at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, stated that even with the most optimistic projections, the population could fall to about 35 million by 2033.
A former Ukrainian prime minister commented on the current situation, noting that the military has suffered losses in ongoing operations at the front.