FORCED MIGRATION AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN KHARKIV REGION (2022–2025) UNDER THE ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Abstract
A systematic analysis has been conducted of the transformational consequences of large-scale forced migratory movements that began in the Kharkiv region in 2022 as a result of the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The study examines the causes, characteristics, and dynamics of forced migration in Kharkiv as one of the key regions for internal displacement in Ukraine. It was found that during the first weeks of the full-scale armed conflict in 2022, migration from the Kharkiv region became explosive in nature, leading to a sharp increase in the burden on host communities in other regions, a loss of institutional control over migration flows under emergency conditions, and the destabilization of local systems responsible for providing basic services. A continuing trend of prolonged population mobility has been observed, driven by security risks, repeated evacuations, attempted returns, and secondary displacements both within and beyond the region. The strategic role of the Kharkiv region is emphasized - as a frontline area, a transit zone, and a long-term place of residence for a significant share of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The spatial specificities of intra-regional mobility are outlined, including wave-like returns, rotations, and evacuations between communities. Examples are provided of districts with the highest evacuation rates. The study also examines the demographic, socio-economic, and ethno-cultural effects of migration processes on the city of Kharkiv, with a particular focus on qualitative changes in the social structure of communities, the functioning of local institutions, and transformations in the regional public policy system. In the conclusions, special emphasis is placed on the sustained high level of institutional mobilization in the Kharkiv region despite limited resources, which ensures the basic resilience of regional governance and social support systems.
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