Ukraine Situation Revised Regional Refugee Response Plan | 2025 - 2026

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

The war in Ukraine, following the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has triggered the fastest-growing and largest displacement crisis in Europe since World War II. In the years following the invasion, millions of people were forced to flee to neighbouring countries and beyond, prompting a vast mobilization of resources and support. National and municipal authorities, civil society organizations, local volunteers and refugees themselves continue to play critical roles in responding to the urgent needs of those displaced by the conflict, ensuring protection and providing essential services.

As the refugee response moves into 2025 and 2026, it faces the challenge of addressing a complex and evolving situation. With millions of refugees in host countries still in need of protection, the plan focuses on ensuring continued access to legal status and rights for as long as necessary. The Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) highlights the deepening ownership of the response by host governments and their increased investments in the socio-economic inclusion of refugees. Host countries and humanitarian actors have shifted from immediate emergency aid to long-term strategies that focus on including refugees into national systems.

The 2025-2026 RRP builds on previous iterations by providing targeted, practical support to host countries. It emphasizes strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks that allow refugees to gain access to legal residency, while also focusing on those in vulnerable situations. It aims to ensure groups such as older people, children, people with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence are receiving specialized assistance to address their needs, and that they are not left behind as the response shifts towards sustainability.

In line with national priorities, the RRP also focuses on enhancing the self-reliance of refugees through socio-economic inclusion. Investments in job-matching, vocational training and language acquisition are central to these efforts, helping refugees transition into the labour market and supporting their economic independence. Social cohesion remains another key focus, as refugees and host communities continue to live side by side. This is particularly essential in areas where resources are strained and the economic impacts of the conflict are being felt the most.

Like refugees across the world, refugees from Ukraine closely follow developments at home and put emphasis on maintaining their cultural links. Providing access to comprehensive, real-time information on access to legal status and assistance, both in host countries and inside Ukraine, will remain a key part of supporting individual, voluntary decisions on whether to remain or to return. The Ukraine is Home digital platform6F5 is central to this work. In the event that conditions in Ukraine shift to allow larger numbers of refugees to return in safety and dignity, partners will adapt and refocus activities to support those who voluntarily choose to return home. This includes linking up to support in Ukraine, as well as ensuring returnees to Ukraine can promptly access international protection again, where needed.

Advocacy will continue for refugees to be able to engage in short visits to Ukraine in order to maintain links with family, community and check on property without prematurely losing access to legal status and rights in host countries. The ability to maintain links with one’s home country has been shown to positively influence longer term decisions to return home once conditions permit.

The response in 2025-2026 remains closely aligned with the strategies of host governments, who continue to lead the effort, with the RRP complementing their work through international coordination and support. As refugees become more included into national systems, the response is also increasingly localized. Civil society organizations, including refugee-led groups, are playing a more prominent role, ensuring that assistance is tailored to the needs of refugees and host communities.