Influx of Migrants Following Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Integration and Governance Dynamics in Nordic and Baltic States

The INFLUX project provides policy-relevant research on the governance and integration of refugees and other migrants who have left due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It examines how these migrants are received, settled, and integrated in their Nordic and Baltic host societies.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of migrants from Ukraine have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge. Among this new flow, there are also other migrants who face increased oppression in their home countries. A large number has fled to the Nordic and Baltic countries, where the Ukrainian refugees have been granted group asylum.

This project examines the integration of, and governance structures relating to, this influx of migrants in the short-, medium-, and long-term in Nordic and Baltic countries. By understanding these dynamics, the project seeks to improve related integration policies in the host countries. INFLUX examines these issues in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania.

In the Nordics, where the majority of previous refugee flows have originated from further afield, there appears to be a change in the overall reception and integration structures in response to the Ukrainians, who are geographically and culturally closer to Nordic countries. Parallelly, the Baltic states are in a new position as migrant destinations and have launched ad hoc structures supported by civil society to establish accommodation and integration mechanisms.

Across these highly different contexts, the sudden influx of refugees and other migrants has strained existing reception structures and challenged integration capacities. It is therefore of crucial importance to understand how these states respond to the abrupt new migration dynamics, and the related outcomes for the migrants.

This work was supported by NordForsk through the funding to 'Influx of Migrants Following Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Integration and Governance Dynamics in Nordic and Baltic States', project number 161678. The project timeframe is May 2023 - October 2024.

Publications

Petäjäniemi, M. Brinch, R., Kaukko M. & Lund, A. (2024). Successful practices and lessons learned: Ukrainian students in Swedish and Finnish schools. INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(1)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Tammaru, T. Kalm, K. Kährik, A. & Tammur A (2024). Refugees find employment in very different settlement contexts. INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(2)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Knudsen, Are John (2024). Arrival of the fittest: Asylum seekers from Ukraine transecting temporary accommodation in Norway. INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(3)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Talleraas, Cathrine, Koch Katharina (2024). Border management in flux: Comparative lessons from the Norway-Russia and Finland-Russia borders (2015–2023). INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(4)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Nuga, Mari (2024). Transnational and local connections in the integration of Ukrainian refugee families. INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(5)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Palonen, Tuire, Horlenko, Kateryna and Nuga, Mari (2024). Protective ties for integration: Schools as support hubs for Ukrainian refugee families. INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(6)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Andersen, Henrik Lindegaard and Liv Osland (2024). Refugees in Norway: Stay or Leave Rural Areas? INFLUX Policy Brief, 1(7)-2024, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Haugesund, Norway.

Principal Investigator (PI)

Liv Osland

Professor

Cathrine Talleraas, (CO-PI)

Project members

Partners

Modified 22.01.25