German residents oppose payments to Ukrainian refugees
19 October 2025 08:05
About 70 percent of Germans who took part in a survey by the INSA sociological institute opposed the payment of social assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
This was reported by Bild, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
It is noted that 17 percent of respondents believe that refugees from Ukraine should continue to receive assistance. Another 66 percent of the Germans surveyed opposed the preservation of such payments.
In addition, 62 percent of respondents believe that Ukrainians who are fit for military service should return to their homeland. This opinion is not shared by 18 percent of the respondents.
The survey was conducted from October 16 to 17, with 1,003 people taking part.
According to the German Federal Employment Agency, 701,000 Ukrainians were eligible for social assistance paid to job seekers and the poor by March 2025. Of these, 502,000 were able-bodied citizens, i.e., aged 15 to 66. Compared to last year, their number has decreased by about 4,300 people.
As of August 4, the number of Ukrainian refugees working and making contributions to social security funds has increased by about 80,000 over the year to 272,000.
The German government’s coalition agreement stipulates that Ukrainian refugees who arrive in Germany after April 1, 2025, will no longer receive basic social benefits and will be subject to the law on assistance for asylum seekers.
