Slovakia — Ukrainian Nationals Crossing Back to Ukraine (January - March 2024)

IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) collected data on Ukrainian nationals and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) that crossed back to Ukraine from or through Slovakia, either temporarily or permanently. The survey focuses on the return intentions, duration of displacement, destinations, assistance, and experiences of discrimination of respondents. A total of 1,335 surveys were collected between January and March 2024.

Key findings:

• 27% of Ukrainian respondents intend to stay in Ukraine (prospective returnees), while 68% plan to go for a short visit.
• The share of those intending to return to Ukraine is higher among men than women (49% vs 25%). Women are more likely to be crossing into Ukraine for a short visit than men (69% vs 44%).
• Most of the short-term visitors plan to stay in their own home in Ukraine (78% overall), while others report to be going to their relatives’ homes (10%), finding other private solutions (7%) or staying with friends (4%). The share of those planning to stay at home is higher among prospective returnees (98%) than among short-term visitors (78%).
• Reasons for returning for prospective returnees include: visit relatives or close friends (75%), meet with family members (6%), reunite with their family (6%).
• Reasons for returning for short-term visitors include: visit family members (76%), healthcare (26%), reunite with family (21%).
• 64% of the Ukrainian nationals originate from seven regions in Ukraine: Zakarpatska (21%), Kyiv (13%), Kharkivska (8%), Dnipropetrovska (8%), Odeska (6%), Zaporizka (3%), and Mykolaivska (3%). The remaining 36% of respondents come from another 20 regions across Ukraine.