Council of Europe Commissioner: Ukrainians still need temporary protection

Ukrainians who were forced to flee the country because of the full-scale war still need temporary protection in European countries, as the security situation in Ukraine remains difficult.

This was stated by Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, during the Global Ukrainian Summit 2026 in Bern.

“The war continues and, in many ways, it has become even worse for civilians. People still need protection. In the coming weeks, I will publish a brief report on the situation of people living in different European countries and on what more we can do to protect their rights and security,” O’Flaherty said.

During the panel discussion, “Protecting, Supporting, and Engaging Ukrainian Displaced Communities Worldwide,” representatives of international organizations and the Ukrainian government discussed the future of millions of Ukrainian citizens who were forced to leave the country because of Russian aggression.

O’Flaherty stressed that policies concerning Ukrainian refugees should be based on facts, transparency, and international law. He also warned against attempts to classify certain regions of Ukraine as “safe” for people to return to.

“There are no safe areas in Ukraine. We must not forget the most vulnerable people, and human dignity must remain at the center of every decision,” the commissioner said.

European countries should consult Ukrainian communities when developing policies on refugee protection and potential returns, he added.

Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said temporary protection should remain in place at least until active hostilities have ended.

According to Lubinets, official data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows that approximately 8.4 million Ukrainian citizens who left the country after the start of Russia’s aggression are currently living abroad.

“In my view, temporary protection should remain in force at least until active hostilities come to an end. Above all, it should continue to apply to the most vulnerable groups – children, women, older people, and people with disabilities,” the ombudsman said.