The UK government has begun to reject Ukrainian applications for asylum, citing the fact that they can be resettled in areas considered safe within Ukraine.
According to some British newspapers on June 27 (local time), many Ukrainians received a refusal letter saying that they did not meet the oppression threshold under the Asylum Convention, due to the possibility of living in less risky areas such as Kiev and western Ukraine.
A London-based law firm said it receives many requests for aid from Ukrainians every week, and denial letters often cited the continued operation of public services in Ukraine. The UK government has also advised Ukrainians to seek support from the United Nations High Commission for refugees (UNHCR) or local organizations.
The increase in the number of rejected applications is believed to be related to the updated guidelines of the British Home Affairs Ministry since January, which classified some areas in Ukraine as Basically safe.
In the UK, the five-year relocation right of residence status allows those accepted to work, receive benefits, medical care, housing support and family reunion. In addition, two temporary visa programs, "For Ukraine House" and "Ukrainian Family Program", allow Ukrainians to stay for a maximum of 18 months. As of March 2025, more than 270,000 visas under these two programs have been issued.
A UK Home Affairs spokesperson said the country had provided or extended asylum opportunities to more than 300,000 Ukrainians since the conflict escalated in February 2022. He stressed that asylum applications are being considered individually, and the House for Ukraine program is still being maintained.
According to Eurostat data, as of March 2025, about 4.3 million Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection status in the European Union. Russia also said 5.5 million people from Ukraine had arrived in the country by the end of 2023.
The migration is not only due to the conflict, but also due to Ukraine's increasingly drastic military mobilization measures, leading to confrontations between people and military personnel. Many Ukrainian men face the risk of criminal prosecution if they leave the country to avoid duty.
Since 2022, the UK has committed billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow has repeatedly accused the UK and its Western allies of taking advantage of Ukraine as a tool for confrontation and prolonging the conflict to the last of the Ukrainians.
