Ruslan Shostak, President of TERWIN Corporation and co-founder and co-owner of the EVA and VARUS retail chains, shared his forecast on Ukrainian migration after the war’s end on his Facebook page.

In his post, Ruslan Shostak said he disagrees with some politicians and bloggers who believe that most Ukrainian migrants will stay abroad.

“I am confident that 80% of Ukrainians who left will return. Some people, including military personnel, may move abroad after the war to reunite with their families. But one way or another, most of them will come back home within the next 3–5 years,” said Ruslan Shostak, President of TERWIN.

According to him, there are at least three reasons why Ukrainians will return.

First, any migrant remains a foreigner in another country — even with citizenship or legal status.

Second, there is growing intolerance toward migrants in European countries and the United States, which are increasingly shifting toward right-conservative politics. This political trend will shape migration policies for years to come.

Third, Ukrainians who return from the front or were forced to leave will not want to remain guest workers when they are Heroes at home. The working-age population will also come back, as post-war Ukraine will offer more opportunities and higher wages.

“History teaches us that it’s better to build your own country than to be a ‘fifth wheel’ in someone else’s. Living abroad means being in constant uncertainty, hoping nothing bad happens. But that’s not truly living — not breathing freely, not feeling part of your nation’s recovery and prosperity. Home is where you’re truly safe,” concluded Ruslan Shostak.