In June 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the State Policy Strategy on Internal Displacement through 2030 together with the Operational Action Plan for 2026–2028 (Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 598-r of 10 June 2026).
1. What is the State Policy Strategy on Internal Displacement and why does it matter?
Simply put, the Strategy is the government’s roadmap for how Ukraine will support internally displaced people (IDPs) and the communities hosting them over the coming years.
The document covers the entire displacement journey—from evacuation or leaving an unsafe area to integration into a new community or voluntary return home when conditions become safe.
As for evacuation, the Strategy sets out measures to improve how it is organised. These include establishing clear criteria for evacuation decisions, introducing early comprehensive needs assessments, developing transit centres, and standardising procedures for all stages of the evacuation process.
The Strategy’s main objective is to move from emergency assistance to long-term, sustainable support. It focuses not only on humanitarian aid but also on creating opportunities for people to secure housing, find employment, access education and essential public services, and gradually regain self-reliance.
2. Why is this Strategy important?
The Strategy sets the direction of Ukraine’s state policy on internal displacement through 2030. It will serve as the foundation for future government programmes, legislative changes, and support mechanisms for internally displaced people and host communities.
For local self-government authorities, the Strategy serves as a roadmap for planning community development while taking into account the needs of IDPs—even before all implementing regulations have been adopted.
In other words, the Strategy establishes the overall policy direction, while specific implementation tools and programmes will be introduced progressively over the coming years.
At the same time, the Strategy establishes specific indicators that will be used to measure its implementation:
- by 2030, at least 75% of territorial communities are expected to incorporate the needs of internally displaced people into their strategic planning and budgeting;
- at least 85% of IDPs are expected to have access to permanent housing;
- at least 70% of working-age IDPs are expected to have stable employment or be self-employed.
The Strategy also aims to reduce, by at least 30% each year, the number of people who have been living in temporary accommodation centres for more than 12 months. This is expected to be achieved through the development of sustainable housing solutions, including permanent housing, social rental housing, supported living arrangements, and the conversion of temporary accommodation centres into social housing.
3. Who does the Strategy apply to?
The Strategy defines responsibilities for all stakeholders involved in shaping and implementing policies related to internal displacement, including:
- IDPs, including those belonging to vulnerable groups;
- Ukrainian citizens returning from abroad;
- IDP Councils;
- territorial communities hosting internally displaced people;
- local self-government authorities;
- Oblast Military Administrations;
- ministries and other state authorities.
For communities, the Strategy means that the needs of internally displaced people should be reflected not only in humanitarian assistance but also in long-term community development, local programmes, and budget planning.
Local self-government authorities are encouraged to implement the Operational Action Plan within their respective mandates, using local budgets and other available funding sources.
Local self-government authorities are encouraged to implement the measures set out in the Operational Action Plan within the scope of their respective mandates. These measures may be financed through the state budget, local budgets, international technical assistance, and other sources not prohibited by Ukrainian law.
Implementing bodies, including Oblast Military Administrations and other designated authorities, are required to submit quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the planned measures to the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine by the 15th day of the month following each reporting quarter.
The implementation of the Strategy is coordinated by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 598-r of 10 June 2026.
4. How is the new Strategy different from the previous one?
The new Strategy marks a further shift from standalone support measures towards a comprehensive and coordinated state policy on internal displacement, with people and their needs placed at its centre.
The new Strategy recognises that, for many people, displacement has become a long-term reality. As a result, state policy must also shift from short-term responses to long-term solutions.
The focus is no longer limited to temporary assistance. Instead, it aims to create the conditions for people to rebuild their lives within their communities by improving access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, social services, and meaningful participation in community life.
5. What role do IDP Councils play under the Strategy?
The Strategy establishes IDP Councils as one of the key mechanisms for ensuring the participation of internally displaced people in shaping state policy on internal displacement. The Operational Action Plan further specifies how this mechanism is to function in practice.
In particular, Oblast State Administrations (including the Kyiv City State Administration) and Military Administrations are expected to consult IDP Councils when preparing decisions that may affect the lives of internally displaced people. Local self-government authorities may also participate in these consultations on a voluntary basis.
This approach is intended to ensure that the needs of internally displaced people are better reflected in both national and local policymaking, while also strengthening their participation in the life of host communities.
6. How will the Strategy be implemented?
The Strategy is designed to run through 2030 and will be implemented in two phases.
The first phase (2026–2028) focuses on launching the core implementation mechanisms. This includes developing digital public services, strengthening coordination between public authorities, preparing the necessary regulatory framework, introducing new housing and economic support instruments, and improving financing mechanisms for communities. Some measures are expected to begin in 2026, while the most significant reforms are planned for 2027–2028.
The second phase (2029–2030) will build on the results of the first. By the end of 2028, the ministry responsible for coordinating the Strategy is expected to prepare a new Operational Action Plan outlining the next steps for implementation.
Beginning in 2027, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will conduct annual assessments of the Strategy’s implementation. This will allow the government to adjust actions where necessary and respond to emerging challenges.
Stay tuned for our upcoming publications
In the coming publications, we will explain the four main objectives of the State Policy Strategy on Internal Displacement through 2030 and what they mean in practice for local communities and IDP Councils:
- To establish a comprehensive and coordinated state policy on internal displacement.
- To ensure coordinated evacuation from areas affected by hostilities and departures from temporarily occupied territories, taking people’s needs into account.
- To support the integration of internally displaced people into host communities and strengthen their self-reliance.
- To create the conditions for the voluntary, safe return and reintegration of internally displaced people.
We will also take a closer look at the amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 812 of 4 August 2023 and explain how these changes affect the work of IDP Councils.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.