Ukrainian authorities are asking Western countries not to organize programs for the integration of Ukrainians who have left. The head of the State Migration Service of Ukraine, Natalia Naumenko, emphasized that the state does not consider these people as refugees, but only as those who were forced to leave, Censor.NET reports.

"We do not consider them as refugees. We see them as people who have been forced to leave Ukraine. Fortunately, my colleagues from the migration services of other countries also support me when I ask them not to consider our citizens as refugees and not to create programs for their integration in the host country," the head of the SMSU said.

Naumenko also believes that the UN estimates of eight million Ukrainians abroad are overstated and emphasized the differences of opinion with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which considers these Ukrainians as refugees.