Overview of the main changes since the previous report update

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The previous update of the report was published in June 2025.

• Key asylum statistics: In 2025, the SMS received applications from 61 applicants, compared to 106 in 2024. A total of 128 decisions were taken in 2025, compared to 216 decisions in 2024. In 2025, 1 person was granted refugee status and 9 persons were granted complementary protection, while 118 applications were rejected. This represents a decrease compared to 2024, when 5 persons were granted refugee status, 48 were granted complementary protection, and 163 applications were rejected (see Statistics).
• Preliminary examination stage: In 2025, 58 decisions were taken at the preliminary stage, including 47 positive and 11 negative decisions. This represents a decrease compared to 2024, when 86 decisions were taken, including 69 positive and 17 negative decisions.
• Main countries of origin: In 2025, the main countries of origin of asylum applicants included the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Belarus, similar to previous years.
• Profile of applicants: In 2024, 67% of applicants were men and 33% women, while 85% were adults and 15% accompanied children, and no unaccompanied minors were recorded. In 2025, 61% of applicants were men and 39% women, and no unaccompanied minors were recorded (see Statistics).

Asylum procedure

• Access to the procedure at the border: As in previous years, it remained impossible to lodge an asylum application at the border in 2025, as applications are not accepted by border authorities (see Legal access to the territory).
• Applications from detention facilities: Applications for international protection submitted by persons held in MCC continued to face obstacles (see Registration of the asylum application).
• Refusal to register applications: No significant changes were observed in the practice of the SMS regarding access to the asylum procedure. In practice, territorial bodies of the SMS continued to verbally refuse to register asylum applications, without issuing written decisions, which lawyers of R2P continue to challenge before the courts (see Registration of the asylum application).
• Use of Article 9 of the 1951 Refugee Convention: In 2025, cases were reported where the SMS invoked Article 9 of the 1951 Refugee Convention in relation to nationals of Belarus, arguing national security considerations linked to the war and referring to Belarus as a “satellite state of the Russian Federation”. Courts, however, did not support this interpretation (see Registration of the asylum application).
• Institutional capacity: As of 31 December 2025, the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS) employed 4,701 staff members, representing a slight decrease compared to 4,814 in 2024. The annual budget of the SMS also significantly decreased, amounting to UAH 2,104,974,400 in 2025, compared to UAH 5,618,055,700 in 2024. At the same time, the number of staff responsible for taking decisions on asylum applications increased to 86 persons in 2025, compared to 58 in 2024 (see Determining authority).

Reception conditions

• Legal framework and access to reception conditions: no significant legislative changes concerning reception conditions for asylum applicants were introduced in 2025. The legal framework remained largely unchanged: asylum applicants continue to access reception conditions only after their application enters the preliminary examination stage and they receive the MSID. The types of reception conditions also remained the same as in 2024, including accommodation in temporary accommodation centres, the possibility to stay with relatives or rent housing at one’s own expense, as well as access to temporary employment, medical care and free legal aid. No state financial allowance is provided to asylum applicants (see Reception Conditions).
• Reception infrastructure and accommodation capacity: the reception infrastructure also remained unchanged in 2025. Ukraine continued to operate three Temporary Accommodation Centres (TAC) with a total capacity of 421 places. However, occupancy remained extremely low, with only one person residing in a TAC at the end of 2025. As in previous years, asylum applicants not accommodated in TAC must rely on their own resources to secure housing, as the state does not provide material assistance or housing support during the asylum procedure (see Housing).
• Role of international organisations and NGOs: reception conditions in practice continue to depend largely on support from international organisations and NGOs. In 2025, in addition to assistance provided by UNHCR and its partners, the NGO Right to Protection provided additional support, including coverage of medical expenses, supermarket vouchers and emergency grants aimed at covering urgent household needs (see Reception Conditions).

Detention of asylum seekers

• Legal framework and grounds for detention: no legislative changes regarding the detention of asylum seekers were reported in 2025. The legal framework regulating detention in MCCs remained unchanged, and asylum seekers continued to be detained primarily on the basis of irregular stay or pending removal procedures. As in previous years, individuals who apply for asylum while already in an irregular situation may face administrative liability, including fines, before their application is accepted (see Detention of Asylum Seekers).
• Use of migrant custody centres and number of detainees: in practice, the use of detention facilities increased in 2025. During the year, 317 persons were placed in MCCs compared to 253 in 2024; 421 persons stayed in these facilities during 2025 compared to 377 in the previous year. The majority of detainees continued to be undocumented migrants, including individuals who had attempted to apply for asylum but were not issued documentation or had lost their legal grounds for stay (see Detention of Asylum Seekers).
• Detention practices and access to asylum procedures: concerns persisted in 2025 regarding detention practices affecting asylum seekers. In some cases, individuals who attempted to apply for international protection were issued return or deportation orders and subsequently detained in MCCs. Access to the asylum procedure from detention facilities remained difficult due to limited information on asylum procedures, restricted access to legal assistance, and infrequent visits by migration authorities. Reports also indicated attempts to remove certain detainees rapidly, including nationals of the Russian Federation, despite ongoing protection concerns (see Detention of Asylum Seekers).

Content of international protection

• Legislative framework: No legislative changes concerning the rights of beneficiaries of international protection were introduced in 2025 (see Content of International Protection).
• Return permits: In 2024, with the support of lawyers from R2P, some persons granted complementary protection were able to obtain return permits from Ukrainian embassies abroad. In 2025, cases were reported where recognised refugees and persons granted complementary protection were able to obtain such permits independently, without legal assistance (see Residence permit).
• Naturalisation: While no persons with refugee status obtained Ukrainian citizenship in 2023 and 2024, 30 recognised refugees were granted Ukrainian citizenship in 2025 (see Naturalisation).
• Travel documents: In 2025, the State Migration Service of Ukraine issued 40 travel documents to recognised refugees (50 in 2024) and 66 travel documents to beneficiaries of complementary protection (93 in 2024) (see Travel Documents).