BRUSSELS/KYIV — Ukraine is marking the 35th anniversary of its independence on Monday, August 24, 2026, but for millions of Ukrainians living outside the country, the national celebration is also a painful reminder of a home they still cannot safely return to.
Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991. Thirty-five years later, the country remains at war following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
For Ukrainians displaced across Europe, Independence Day has taken on a deeply personal meaning: it represents both the country they left behind and the independence they continue to defend from abroad.
In Belgium alone, around 70,000 displaced Ukrainians remain under the European Union’s temporary protection system, according to CNA. The programme gives eligible Ukrainians the right to live and work in EU countries while the conflict continues.
FOR MANY, “TEMPORARY” NO LONGER FEELS TEMPORARY
The longer the war continues, the more complicated the idea of returning home has become.
Ukrainian community organisations in Belgium have been helping displaced families with housing, employment, social services, language training and other forms of support. But families with children who have spent years in European schools face an increasingly difficult decision: return to a country still under attack or continue building a life abroad.
That dilemma is not limited to Belgium.
EU data show that 4.38 million people who fled Ukraine were under temporary protection in the bloc as of May 31, 2026. In July, EU countries agreed to extend temporary protection until March 4, 2028, giving displaced Ukrainians additional time while conditions in their homeland remain uncertain.
The European Commission has also been working on measures aimed at helping Ukrainians who eventually choose to return, including assistance related to employment, housing and education.
THE RETURN HOME QUESTION
Recent research from the International Organization for Migration underscores the scale of the challenge. IOM has been examining the barriers facing Ukrainians who want to return, including conditions in areas heavily affected by the war and the difficulty of rebuilding lives after prolonged displacement.
The uncertainty is reflected in the choices many refugees face.
Some have returned when security conditions allowed. Others have established jobs, enrolled children in schools and created new communities across Europe. For them, returning is no longer simply a matter of crossing a border—it can mean uprooting an entire life built during years of war.
A previous UNHCR survey also found that security remained the main obstacle to return, alongside concerns over employment and housing.
EUROPE FACES ITS OWN TEST
Ukraine’s Independence Day is also putting renewed attention on Europe’s commitment to Kyiv.
CNA reported that European leaders and Ukrainian officials are discussing additional air-defence support and ways to increase pressure on Russia as Russian attacks intensify. Kyiv remains particularly dependent on advanced air-defence systems to protect its cities and critical infrastructure.
The challenge extends beyond weapons.
The European Union has provided billions of euros in financial assistance to help sustain Ukraine’s economy while maintaining sanctions against Russia. But European governments continue to face difficult questions over the cost and durability of supporting Ukraine for the long term.
The issue is becoming increasingly significant because the consequences of the war extend beyond Ukraine’s borders. European governments have repeatedly linked Ukraine’s security with the broader security of the continent.
35 YEARS LATER, INDEPENDENCE REMAINS THE STORY
For Ukrainians celebrating abroad, Independence Day is therefore about more than a date in history.
It is about identity, family, survival and the hope of eventually returning home.
Ukraine’s 35th anniversary arrives with the country still fighting for control of its territory and sovereignty, while millions of its citizens remain scattered across Europe and elsewhere.
And as the war enters another year, the question facing Ukrainians abroad is becoming harder to answer:
When the fighting finally ends, how many will be able—or willing—to go home?
For now, the flags are flying far beyond Ukraine’s borders. But for millions of displaced Ukrainians, the meaning of independence remains tied to a place they are still waiting to return to.
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