Planning to return to Ukraine now or in the future? The “Dodomu” platform can help you prepare

Over the years of full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians have started building lives in other countries. Data from the Centre for Economic Strategy shows that 43% of Ukrainians abroad plan or are rather inclined to plan to return to Ukraine. Some are considering this possibility for the future, while others do not yet know where they will be living in a year or two. The decision to return is rarely simple: it involves safety, employment, housing, children’s education, loved ones, and many other circumstances. Today, in EU countries alone, 4.43 million people who left Ukraine remain under temporary protection. The largest number is in Germany: approximately 1.29 million, or nearly a third of the total in the EU. At the same time, for most people this is not a decision for the near term: around 80% of those considering returning link it to the end of the war.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. But even if relocating is not on the table right now, practical questions could already have arisen. Where are you going to live after returning? How do you find housing if you are not going back to your hometown? What social and medical services will be available, and where should you turn if you need help? Answers to these questions are often scattered across the websites of various government agencies, communities, and organisations. Gathering the information required on your own could mean scrolling through dozens of pages. The “Dodomu” platform, dodomu.unity.gov.ua, brings useful resources together in one place and helps you understand the next steps if you are considering returning to Ukraine. Dodomu was developed within the YOUA “Shaping New Paths, Building Ukraine’s Future”, implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine. According to the project, no Ukrainian state budget funds were used to develop or operate the platform. What You Need to Know If You Are Considering Returning Where should you start, and what should you take into account in your specific situation? On the “Dodomu” platform, you can create a personalised return plan. You answer a few questions and receive steps and recommendations tailored specifically to you. This plan will help you figure out which documents you need to arrange; how to organise the transport of personal belongings, a car, or pets; where to look for housing and employment; how to enrol a child in school or nursery; and what support you can count on. It also includes opportunities for education, retraining, or starting your own business. Note: The screenshot shows an English translation of the Dodomu website (dodomu.unity.gov.ua). The original website is in Ukrainian. What if you are not returning to the place you left? Over the years of war, the very meaning of “returning” has changed for many people. A hometown may now be in temporarily occupied territory or may have suffered heavily from the war. Jobs, schools, and familiar surroundings may have changed too. That is why returning to Ukraine does not always mean going back to the same flat, city, or community. In this situation, it is important to understand, even before moving, what life might look like in a different place. The “Dodomu” website already features 149 communities, and the number is gradually growing. Each one has its own “profile” with information on services and infrastructure, employment and education conditions, transport connections, leisure options, and contact information for administrative service centres (TsNAPs), social protection departments, and community representatives. Note: The screenshot shows an English translation of the Dodomu website (dodomu.unity.gov.ua). The original website is in Ukrainian. While still abroad, you can learn more about a given community: what job and education opportunities exist there, what infrastructure is available, and where to turn after arriving. This makes it possible to compare different options and get a clearer picture of what life might look like after returning. Support Is Also Available Abroad The platform also features an interactive map of Unity Hubs for Ukrainians and partner organisations in various countries. It includes contact details and information about services which are available — consultations on staying in host countries as well as on opportunities in Ukraine. In Germany, which currently hosts the largest number of Ukrainians under temporary protection in the EU, Unity Hub Berlin has been operating since April 2026 as the first Unity Hub for Ukrainians in Europe. Here, people can get information on the conditions for staying in Germany, consultations on social and pension matters in Ukraine, as well as advice on a possible return and how to prepare for it. “Dodomu” Is Still Evolving, and Users Can Help Shape It “Dodomu” is currently being piloted. Since its launch in June 2026, the platform has recorded over 50,000 visits from various countries around the world. The pilot allows the service to be improved based on feedback from the people it was created for. All users can leave feedback or a suggestion — sharing what information is missing, what was hard to find, what does not work smoothly, or what should be added. This feedback helps the team better understand the real needs of Ukrainians abroad and gradually make the platform more convenient and useful. Note: The screenshot shows an English translation of the Dodomu website (dodomu.unity.gov.ua). The original website is in Ukrainian. The decision to return remains an open question for many Ukrainians abroad. But it is possible to prepare for it now, so that when the time comes to decide, there will be far less uncertainty. That is exactly what the “Dodomu” platform is designed for: helping people find the information they need and put together a personal plan for returning to Ukraine. The project provides technical assistance only and does not influence individual decisions about returning to Ukraine. Participation in its activities and use of its services are entirely voluntary for people considering return, those who have already decided to return, and those currently reintegrating after returning to Ukraine. This article is published as part of Kyiv Post Spotlight and is not part of Kyiv Post’s editorial coverage.