A glance at the yellow graph in this chart requires no further explanation for those of us who have held a newspaper or listened to the radio over the past two and a half years:

A 700% increase in Ukrainian immigrants within two years is hardly surprising given the shelling of the country with Kinshal bombs or attacks on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. In every country, there are people who wish to distance themselves from political conflicts and simply lead a peaceful life. This also applies to Ukraine. It is widely known that Germany is one of the main host countries. Although Poland is closer and serves as a good transit station, it is a direct neighbor of the war zone. Romania could be an option, were it not for the fact that many Romanians have also migrated to Germany for valid reasons.

The rise in Ukraine’s migration curve is therefore self-explanatory. For the 250,000 migrants who regularly came to Germany each year before, there was also a reason – fleeing has long been an issue in Ukraine. For Ukrainian Jews, Germany has traditionally been a classic immigration destination because entry barriers have always been significantly lower here. Even though former Soviet-era antisemitism in Ukraine has significantly declined, 25 years ago being Jewish was sufficient grounds for an unexamined asylum process.

Migration from Russia, on the other hand, follows a different pattern. Why does the number of Russian immigrants remain stable despite the current situation? The slight increase since 2021 could be due to some Russians distancing themselves from the war.

Many Russian immigrants are so-called ‘Russian Germans,’ whose history dates back to the 18th century. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many rediscovered their roots and sought a new home in Germany or neighboring countries.

Migration from Russia illustrates how diverse the reasons for migration can be. While some distance themselves due to political developments like the war in Ukraine, others, such as Russian Germans, continue to seek their homeland in Germany due to historical ties. These different migration patterns highlight the complexity of the current refugee situation and the multifaceted reasons why people leave their homes.