Roughly two-thirds of Ukrainian refugees plan to remain in the Czech Republic even after the expiration of their temporary protection, a recent survey commissioned by the Czech interior ministry has revealed.
The findings mark a significant increase from a year ago, with 20 percent more refugees expressing an intention to stay permanently. Only about one-fifth of those surveyed expect to return to Ukraine once the war ends.
The survey, conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research at the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, offered a comprehensive view of the current situation facing the 320,304 Ukrainian refugees registered for temporary protection extension this year.
Notably, two-thirds of Ukrainian refugees have integrated into the workforce, with 86 percent holding full-time employment. Unlike in many other European nations farther away from the conflict, just 20 percent of refugees have received welfare benefits.
The survey also indicated a substantial improvement in refugees’ Czech language skills compared to last year. Nearly half of respondents said they can communicate effectively in daily situations, with teenagers aged 15 to 17 rating their language proficiency the highest.
In terms of future plans, 28 percent of respondents stated that they “definitely” intend to stay in Czechia, while another 38 percent are “leaning” towards staying. In contrast, 12 percent are firmly committed to returning to Ukraine, and another 10 percent would prefer to return but remain uncertain. The remainder of the respondents were undecided or chose not to answer.
“The share of applicants for the extension of temporary protection who do not expect to return to Ukraine has increased by more than 20 percentage points,” the survey authors noted.
Younger refugees under the age of 35, men, and those who have established employment or businesses in the country are more likely to remain. Stronger language skills, permanent housing, and earlier arrival in the Czech Republic, particularly in 2022, also correlate with the desire to stay.
Most Ukrainian refugees currently residing in Czechia hail from Zakarpattia, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions. The majority have settled in the country’s three largest cities — Prague, Brno, and Ostrava. More than a quarter of all refugees, or 26 percent, live in the capital of Prague.
Housing remains a key factor, with 75 percent of refugees living in apartments or houses, while 17 percent are accommodated in hostels.
