23 MARCH 2022


Ukraine Info: Statelessness and Ukraine

Information from the European Network on Statelessness


Whilst the prevailing discourse on Ukraine focuses on Ukrainian nationals fleeing and seeking protection in other countries, there is also the need to consider the situation of stateless persons who were living in Ukraine when the war broke out.

The Temporary Protection Directive, as also implemented in Malta, specifically mentions stateless persons. This means that they are also entitled to temporary protection in view of their situation.

The information below is provided by the European Network on Statelessness. It provides an overview of the situation and provides contact details of organisations providing support to stateless persons in countries neighbouring Ukraine. Here in Malta, stateless persons may access information and support from the same organisations offering support to asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants.


The last census in Ukraine recorded 82,550 stateless people, and in 2021 UNHCR estimated there to be at least 35,000 stateless and people with ‘undetermined nationality’. Other sources suggest there could be many tens of thousands more, including a significant proportion of the Roma population as well as children born in Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk since 2014.

Reports from our members working in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries suggest that stateless people fleeing the crisis may face additional barriers when seeking safety because of their lack of nationality or lack of civil documentation.

We’ve published a briefing based on the information collected from ENS members and partners working on the ground. The briefing also makes a series of recommendations to the EU, European States, international agencies and NGOs.

Advice and assistance for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness

Updated as of 22 March 2022

The European Network on Statelessness cannot provide legal advice to stateless people directly, but our members listed below work in Ukraine and its Western bordering countries and provide either free or paid legal advice. They will never report undocumented or stateless people to the authorities. We encourage you to contact them by phone or email to see if they can help you.

  • Europe
European Network on Statelessness
A lists of ENS members in diffreent countries across Europe providing advice to stateless people.
https://www.statelessness.eu/legal-advice
ukraine.crisis@statelessness.eu

Statefree.world
A platform for stateless people with helpful information.
https://community.statefree.world/updates-news-stories-from-community-members-2/fleeing-from-ukraine-as-a-stateless-person-150

  • Ukraine
Right2Protection (R2P) Право на захист
https://www.facebook.com/right2protection/
t.me/pravonazahyst
(099) 507 50 90, (068) 507 50 90, (093) 507 50 90
+380 44 337 1762

International Foundation for Health and Environmental Protection “Region Karpat” (NEEKA)
http://new.neeka.org/
info@neeka.org
https://www.facebook.com/neekaukraine
+380 3131 32122

  • Hungary
Hungarian Helsinki Committee
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee provides legal information, assistance and representation to persons who are fleeing Ukraine and come to Hungary.
https://helsinki.hu/en/information-for-people-fleeing-from-ukraine/
ukrainecrisis@helsinki.hu
facebook.com/helsinkibizottsag

UNHCR Hungary
https://help.unhcr.org/hungary/
+373 22 271 853
hunbu@unhcr.org

  • Moldova
Law Center of Advocates
https://cda.md/
КРАТКИЙ СПРАВОЧНИК ДЛЯ БЕЖЕНЦЕВ/ОК ИЗ УКРАИНЫ В МОЛДОВЕ - CDA
Statelessness hotline: +37369906400
Asylum hotline: +37368828180

  • Poland
Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center (HNLAC)
https://www.pomocprawna.org/en
+48 693 390 502 / +48 12 633 72 23
porady@pomocprawna.org

Association for Legal Intervention (Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej)
Siedmiogrodzka 5/51, Warsaw
porada@interwencjaprawna.pl

UNHCR Poland
https://help.unhcr.org/poland/
+48 22 628 6930
polwa@unhcr.org

  • Romania
JRS Romania
https://www.jrsromania.org/asistenta-ucraina
0040732129236
stefan.leonescu.jrsro@gmail.com

UNHCR
https://help.unhcr.org/romania/
+40 723 653 651
rombu@unhcr.org

  • Slovakia
Human Rights League
https://www.hrl.sk/en
https://www.ukraineslovakia.sk/
+421 2 534 10 182 / +421 918 682 457
hrl@hrl.sk

UNHCR Slovakia
https://help.unhcr.org/slovakia/
+36 1 336 3060


This is a post of several where the Malta Refugee Council will be giving news and updates on the situation of Ukrainians here and on how they may be protected.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any info you would like to share or if you need any assistance.


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Established with the kind support of the Dutch Refugee Council