--- title: "Kyrylo Budanov: Ukraine Will Have to Attract Foreign Specialists to Restore the Economy" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Head of OP Budanov: Ukraine will have to attract foreign specialists to restore the economy. The demographic crisis requires action β€” but he called myths about a \"mass influx of migrants\" a media provocation. πŸ“‰πŸ’Ό #Ukraine #Migration #Economy" date: 2026-06-26T07:34:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-will-have-to-attract-foreign-specialists-to-restore-the-economy tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kyrylo Budanov: Ukraine Will Have to Attract Foreign Specialists to Restore the Economy ![Kyrylo Budanov at a meeting discussing the recruitment of foreign specialists to restore Ukraine's economy](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/26/ukraine-neobkhodimo-privlekat-inostrannykh-spetsialistov-dlya-vosstanovleniya-ekonomiki/ukraine-neobkhodimo-privlekat-inostrannykh-spetsialistov-dlya-vosstanovleniya-ekonomiki-1.webp) Ukraine faces a complex demographic challenge: returning citizens who have left the country and attracting foreign specialists. Without this, building a strong economy is impossible, stated Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, during a meeting with students at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. ### Demographic Crisis and Labor Shortage Budanov reminded that in 1995–1996, Ukraine's population was 52 million. Today, this figure is significantly lower. "We are fewer now β€” I don't want to scare anyone, but much fewer," he said. According to the Head of the Office of the President, increasing labor productivity alone will not solve the problem. The demographic burden on one worker is already critical, and a labor shortage is felt even during wartime. "We will have to both return citizens and attract specialists from all corners of the world. There will be no other option," emphasized Budanov. ### Optimism and Conditions for Return Despite the seriousness of the situation, Budanov expressed optimism: if millions of people can be lost over 25 years, the process can be reversed under the right conditions. "If we create the right economic climate here and a sense of security β€” we can already work on this. Without an economy, there will be nothing," he explained. ### Myths About Mass Influx of Migrants The Head of the Office of the President also commented on sensational stories about the alleged mass appearance of migrants on the streets of Ukraine. According to him, the country is a tolerant state where representatives of different ethnicities and religions have lived peacefully for centuries. He called stories about protests against migrants an information special operation against Ukraine. "We need both explanatory work and self-awareness. Without this, there will be nothing. If you want someone to deceive you β€” they will deceive you," concluded Budanov. ### The Real Picture of Migration The topic of migration remains one of the most discussed in Ukraine. Rumors are spreading about the mass import of foreign workers β€” however, the real picture is different. The Ministry of Economy emphasizes that attracting labor migrants is not currently a priority. The government is focused on returning Ukrainians who have left the country. The Institute of Demography clarifies: real figures speak of thousands of foreign workers, not hundreds of thousands, as rumors claim. Thus, Ukraine stands before the necessity of a comprehensive approach to solving demographic and economic problems β€” through the return of compatriots and the cautious attraction of qualified personnel from abroad.