Navigating Return
Navigating Return
Understanding the challenges and the well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict.
What is the situation of returnees in Ukraine?
In this mixed-method study, we examined the experiences and outcomes of displaced Ukrainians returning to their home country amid the ongoing conflict.
Much research has focused on return after conflict, yet the experiences, wellbeing, and aspirations of people who go back amid ongoing violence remain poorly understood. Our study brings this overlooked phenomenon into focus.
Presenting research results
Executive brief: December 2025
Key findings from our research Navigating return: understanding the challenges and well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict, presented December 2025.
Research is integral to our mission. In this section, you will find a collection of our studies on the challenges related to migration.
NL
How are Ukrainian refugees doing on the labor market?
NL
Private reception of Ukrainian displaced persons in Rotterdam.
ENG
Navigating return: Understanding the challenges and well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict
Presenting research results
Executive brief: December 2025
Key findings from our research Navigating return: understanding the challenges and well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict, presented December 2025.
Research is integral to our mission. In this section, you will find a collection of our studies on the challenges related to migration.
NL
How are Ukrainian refugees doing on the labor market?
NL
Private reception of Ukrainian displaced persons in Rotterdam.
ENG
Navigating return: Understanding the challenges and well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict
Project Objectives
Psychological well-being
Reintegration barriers
Public and political discourse
Policy recommendations
Using validated well-being surveys examine the mental and emotional health of returnees, focusing on trauma, resilience, and coping mechanisms during reintegration.
Identify social, economic, and institutional challenges faced by returnees, including access to housing, employment, healthcare, education, and experiences of discrimination.
Analyze how return migration is framed in media and political narratives, and how these narratives influence public perception and policy decisions.
Produce practical, research-driven recommendations to strengthen support systems across national and EU levels.
Project Objectives
Psychological well-being
Reintegration barriers
Public and political discourse
Policy recommendations
Using validated well-being surveys examine the mental and emotional health of returnees, focusing on trauma, resilience, and coping mechanisms during reintegration.
Identify social, economic, and institutional challenges faced by returnees, including access to housing, employment, healthcare, education, and experiences of discrimination.
Analyze how return migration is framed in media and political narratives, and how these narratives influence public perception and policy decisions.
Produce practical, research-driven recommendations to strengthen support systems across national and EU levels.
Why does this matter?
Unlike previous return contexts, Ukraine’s case is unprecedented:
Return is happening amid active war, not after it.
Return is not the end destination for migrants - it is all about mobility.
Prolonged temporality and the loss of identity.
Key research components:
Mental Well-Being and Return
Barriers to reintegration.
Mental Well-Being and Return
Barriers to reintegration.
Social Cohesion & Political Discourse
Insights into how return is represented in media, politics, and public conversation — and what aspects remain overlooked.
Social Cohesion & Political Discourse
Insights into how return is represented in media, politics, and public conversation — and what aspects remain overlooked.
Recommendations
For national and EU policymakers, civil society, and international donors.
Recommendations
For national and EU policymakers, civil society, and international donors.
Partners
Navigating Return
Understanding the challenges and the well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict.
What is the situation of returnees in Ukraine?
In this mixed-method study, we examined the experiences and outcomes of displaced Ukrainians returning to their home country amid the ongoing conflict.
Much research has focused on return after conflict, yet the experiences, wellbeing, and aspirations of people who go back amid ongoing violence remain poorly understood. Our study brings this overlooked phenomenon into focus.
Presenting research results
Executive brief: December 2025
Key findings from our research Navigating return: understanding the challenges and well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict, presented December 2025.
ENG
Navigating return: Understanding the challenges and well-being of Ukrainians coming home amid conflict
Project Objectives
Psychological well-being
Reintegration barriers
Public and political discourse
Policy recommendations
Using validated well-being surveys examine the mental and emotional health of returnees, focusing on trauma, resilience, and coping mechanisms during reintegration.
Identify social, economic, and institutional challenges faced by returnees, including access to housing, employment, healthcare, education, and experiences of discrimination.
Analyze how return migration is framed in media and political narratives, and how these narratives influence public perception and policy decisions.
Produce practical, research-driven recommendations to strengthen support systems across national and EU levels.
Why does this matter?
Unlike previous return contexts, Ukraine’s case is unprecedented:
Return is happening amid active war, not after it.
Return is not the end destination for migrants - it is all about mobility.
Prolonged temporality and the loss of identity.
Key research components:
Mental Well-Being and Return
Barriers to reintegration.
Social Cohesion & Political Discourse
Insights into how return is represented in media, politics, and public conversation — and what aspects remain overlooked.
Recommendations
For national and EU policymakers, civil society, and international donors.
Partners