The Federal Government is supporting Ukraine by setting up the first Unity Hub in Berlin. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov in Berlin today to discuss the initiative. State secretaries from the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development also attended the meeting at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community.

Unity Hubs will act as a point of contact for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, providing cultural opportunities, courses on the German language and culture, assistance with finding jobs in Ukraine and Germany as well as advice on returning to Ukraine voluntarily and helping to rebuild the country. The first Unity Hub will be opened in Berlin soon.

Federal Minister Faeser said: “For almost three years now, people have been dying every day in Ukraine, killed by Putin’s murderous war. The suffering is impossible to measure. One thing was clear to us from the very beginning: we stand with the Ukrainians. This is a humanitarian imperative. 1.2 million people fleeing this brutal war now live in Germany. This number includes 350,000 children and young people. They will continue to be safe in our country as long as this war goes on. 

“We are also helping Ukraine maintain close contact to Ukrainian nationals who have fled to Germany because of this horrific war. And the first Unity Hub in Berlin will soon assist us in this effort. The Unity Hub will provide advice to Ukrainian people searching for jobs in Germany, and will assist them in returning voluntarily to their home country as soon as it is safe for them to do so. It will also provide language courses and educational services to refugees.”

Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshov said: “Germany is a reliable partner for Ukraine when it comes to security and social support. Our cooperation will now be strengthened further by helping Ukrainians become integrated in German society. I would like to thank the representatives of the Federal Government for the constructive dialogue and their willingness to continue this partnership.”

Since 24 February 2022, around 1.24 million people have fled to Germany due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. More than 350,000 of them are children and young people under 18 years of age. More than 60 per cent of the adult refugees are women.

The Unity Hub will also work with the job centres and the Federal Employment Agency in order to help Ukrainian nationals become integrated in Germany’s labour market. As at October 2024, 240,000 Ukrainian nationals were in employment and contributing to the social security system. That is 74,000 more than in October 2023. At the time of recording, there were also some 50,500 Ukrainians in marginal employment.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development already assists voluntary returnees, internally displaced persons, veterans and vulnerable groups in Ukraine with finding accommodation, employment and training. For example, the Skills Alliance initiative for skilled immigration, founded at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024, is training Ukrainians to rebuild their country. The initiative is mainly aimed at young people, internally displaced persons and women in Ukraine and is open to voluntary returnees. The aim is for these population groups to be at the heart of rebuilding Ukraine as a free and European country.