Among Ukrainian war refugees, the number of those leaving because of shortages of electricity, heating or water is rising, a UNHCR spokesperson told the German news outlet “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” during its Saturday edition. The spike follows Russia’s increasingly targeted attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and a severe cold spell.
“We haven’t seen a recent surge in people leaving Ukraine” the UNHCR official said. “Cross‑border movements actually fell in December and the first weeks of January”. Nevertheless, the speaker noted that a growing share of those who do depart cite not only the security situation but also the lack of power, heat or water as decisive reasons. Most of the exodus occurred in 2022, but this new factor is becoming more prominent.
A spokeswoman from Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior told journalists that there is currently no evidence of a significant uptick in Ukrainian arrivals that can be traced back to Russia’s intensified attacks on energy facilities or to the cold wave. She echoed a statement from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) that Ukrainian citizens may stay in the EU visa‑free for up to 90 days without registration.
The BAMF spokesperson added that, since September, between 2,000 and 3,000 Ukrainians arrive in Germany each week-sometimes exceeding 4,000. The increase, she said, is partly due to conscripts now being allowed to leave the country.