Supporting Ukrainians overseas: Locations of the first unity centers
Ukrainians in Poland (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine, together with the EU and Ukrainian NGOs, is preparing to launch the Unity Network. The first centers will open in Spain and Germany, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy on Telegram.
“We are working to ensure that our citizens abroad stay connected with the state, have access to reliable information, and can make informed and conscious decisions about returning home,” emphasized Deputy Minister Ilona Havronska.
She outlined the ministry’s plans to roll out the Unity Network for Ukrainians abroad.
The first hubs will be Unity Centers, set to open this year in Spain and Germany.
According to Havronska, the most effective approach for rolling out the Unity Network is a tripartite model, involving Ukraine, EU member states, and Ukrainian NGOs already active abroad.
“Our goal is not only to create new hubs for Ukrainians but also to connect existing initiatives. Essentially, we are forming a ‘network of networks’ to make visible and heard the activities that Ukrainian communities, civic, and international organizations are already carrying out,” the deputy minister explained.
Initiatives for Ukrainians abroad
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported the launch of UA4YOU, a unified information portal for Ukrainians in Poland.
The portal provides everything Ukrainians in Poland might need, from legal registration, job search, and starting a business to healthcare, education, and cultural initiatives.
Additionally, Ukrainians abroad can now authenticate in the Diia app without using BankID. To do this, they need a smartphone with NFC (contactless communication) support and one of the following documents: an ID card or a biometric passport.
NFC works on the principle of contactless data reading: simply hold the document near the phone, and the system automatically verifies the user’s identity.
