15,000 Ukrainian Jews have immigrated to Israel since war began
Ahead of the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israeli officials reported that in the last year, 15,000 Ukrainian Jews have immigrated to Israel.
The numbers were based on figures provided by the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption and by the Jewish Agency, a quasi-governmental agency that facilitates Jewish immigration.
Jewish Ukrainian refugees who fled from war zones in Ukraine arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport from Romania on a rescue flight. Lod, Mar 7, 2022. Photo by Shalev Shalom/TPS
According to their figures, 24% were under the age of 18, 405 were 18-35, 37% were 36-65, and 21% were 66 or older.
After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the Ministry of Immigration and Jewish Agency launched a “Coming Home” operation, setting up emergency centres at border crossings. Ukrainian men of fighting age have not been allowed to leave the country.
Overall, immigration to Israel surged in 2022 in large part due to the war and decreased numbers the previous year because of the COVID pandemic.
Over 70,000 immigrants arrived in Israel in 2022, the highest figure in 23 years and more than double the number from last year. According to the Jewish Agency, almost three-quarters of 2022’s immigrants came from either Russia, Ukraine or Belarus.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Israeli population grew by 2.2%
in 2022.
Shortly before the invasion, Israeli officials assessed that around 75,000 Jews in Ukraine would qualify for Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return. The largest concentrations of Jews are in and around the cities of Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.
