Country on the Move: Comparing the Impacts of Service Provision During the Waves of Displacement Before and After Full-Scale Aggression Against Ukraine

Abstract

The ongoing war in Ukraine demands a comprehensive and holistic state-level and social work response. This should address the psychosocial, economic, relational, and family reintegration aspects of the crisis and the needs and human rights of those affected by war-related displacement and migration. While the current global media has primarily focused on refugees leaving Ukraine, the severity of the impact of this conflict on those displaced within the Ukrainian nation’s borders has been largely overlooked. This study explores Ukrainian responses to internally displaced people during the first and second waves of war-induced displacement and internal migration in Ukraine, which took place after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and after the full-scale invasion of 2022. It also critically examines the UK’s response to Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK. Analysis of a review of the existing literature reveals significant differences in Ukraine’s support provision for internally displaced people (IDPs) during each wave, as well as key strengths and limitations in UK support for externally displaced Ukrainian refugees (EDPs). During the first wave, the Ukrainian state failed to fully address the needs of IDPs and protect their human rights. Although Ukrainian support for internally displaced persons has improved with the second wave, significant limitations in the provision of support remain alongside weaknesses in the UK provision of support for externally displaced Ukrainian refugees. The article concludes that incorporation of the lessons learned from the experiences of Ukrainian IDPs and EDPs is essential for improving the provision of services both in Ukraine and in receiving countries.