Report: 400,000 Ukrainians expected to leave the country in 2024 due to destroyed infrastructure
Ukraine expects a surge in emigration due to the destruction of its energy infrastructure caused by increasing Russian attacks. According to a report published by the Ukrainian Central Bank on Thursday, it is expected that 400,000 Ukrainians will leave the country this year, with another 300,000 potentially leaving next year. This trend will be exacerbated by the near-total destruction of Ukraine's energy system, which is leading to longer power outages and increasing risks for the heating season, the Central Bank explained.
Moscow has launched massive attacks on Ukraine's power grid this year. Russian attacks on the energy sector have damaged or destroyed numerous Ukrainian power plants, resulting in widespread power outages and raising concerns about the upcoming winter. According to the Central Bank, these power outages are also negatively impacting the economy due to decreasing demand for labor and increasing emigration.
While Ukrainian authorities announced in late July that the country's energy supply situation had improved thanks to repairs, the lack of air defense means that the Russian army can still launch new attacks on the facilities at any time.
According to UN estimates, at least 6.7 million Ukrainians will be living abroad by 2024. The exact number of people remaining in Ukraine is a contentious issue among experts, as the last and only census in the country was conducted in 2001, when the population was 48 million.
Experts estimate that Ukraine had between 28 and 34 million inhabitants last year, compared to an estimated 41 million before the Russian invasion. These estimates are due to the country's long-standing low birth rate and high mortality rate, as well as the loss of significant territories due to Russian annexation and occupation since 2014.
The 'Report by the Commission' likely discusses the economic impact of the power outages in Ukraine, as mentioned by the Central Bank in their analysis. Further, the Commission's report might provide insights into strategies to mitigate the large-scale emigration expected due to the energy infrastructure destruction.
