Germany announces the closure of a large center for refugees from Ukraine
2 November 2025 17:05
Berlin has decided to close the largest center for Ukrainian refugees located on the territory of the former Tegel airport. The place, which has become a temporary home for thousands of Ukrainians, is gradually being vacated as the authorities prepare to turn it into a new urban district.
This was reported by Deutsche Welle, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The largest reception center for Ukrainian refugees in Berlin, located in the premises of the former Tegel Airport, will cease operations by the end of 2025. The city authorities explain that the number of newly arrived refugees has decreased, and instead of mass shelters, they plan to create smaller, decentralized places of residence.
The decision means that about 1,500 Ukrainians who are still staying in Tegel will be relocated to other shelters, including Tempelhof Airport or to dormitories in different parts of the city. More than five thousand people used to live here.
The former Tegel airport was repeatedly criticized for its difficult living conditions and overcrowding. People were living in tents and temporary quarters, sometimes for years.
Berlin Senator for Labor and Integration Kanzel Kitsiltepe noted that the new approach should help Ukrainians integrate better into the urban environment: “Decentralized accommodation means distributing the burden between neighborhoods and creating good neighborly relations,” she said.
Meanwhile, the territory of the Tegel airport is planned to be redeveloped into a new residential area. According to Tegel Projekt, preparatory work has already begun, and active construction is expected to start in 2026.
