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Helping Ukrainians People in Finland want to help Ukrainians in their time of need, and many have been asking the Finnish authorities how they can help Ukrainians. People are also asking how they can help Ukraine’s neighbouring countries who are u...

25.5.2022 | On 16 May, Finland sent medicines and medical supplies to Ukraine. The assistance was provided through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. According to the European Commission, Ukraine urgently needs medicines, fuel, back-up generators and water purification tablets.

24.8.2022 | On 8 July, Finland sent medical supplies and radiation safety equipment to Ukraine, and on 2 August, rescue service supplies, such as stretchers, defibrillators, first-aid kits and protective equipment. The material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

29.12.2022 | Finland has sent more energy sector supplies and hospital supplies to Ukraine. Last week, Finland also delivered school furniture for the first time. This year, Finland has delivered a total of 55 trucks of civilian material assistance to Ukraine. New assistance packages are being prepared, among other things, for the energy sector.

3.2.2023 | More than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine last year may be eligible for a municipality of residence in 2023 after residing in Finland for one year, with about 13,000 already satisfying the qualifying period of residence in March–April. On registering a municipality of residence, they will leave the reception services system and become clients of municipalities and wellbeing services counties. This will make them a more integrated part of society in Finland.

22.4.2022 | On 14 April, Finland sent two ambulances and rescue service supplies to Ukraine and medical supplies to Moldova. In addition, a donation of medicinal products was delivered to Ukraine. The material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. 

9.11.2022 | Finland has been providing Ukraine with more civilian material assistance over the course of October–November. On 18 October, Finland sent one truckload of back-up generators badly needed by Ukraine and two truckloads of personal protective equipment were sent in early November. The material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

3.6.2022 | Ukraine is under attack by Russia. Finland is providing support to Ukraine both nationally and through the European Union. In addition to financial aid granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland has sent over EUR 2 million in civilian material assistance to Ukraine and its neighbouring regions through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

27.2.2022 | On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that Finland will increase its aid to Ukraine and also provide military protective equipment to assist the country.

8.4.2022 | People who have applied for temporary protection have the right to work in Finland as soon as they have submitted their application. In other words, they do not need to wait for a residence permit or a residence permit card to be issued to be able to work. A certificate of registration is sufficient.

7.3.2022 | The EU has activated the Temporary Protection Directive to help people fleeing Ukraine. The Council decision, which entered into force on 4 March, left a certain amount of discretion for Member States to decide the exact category of people to be granted protection. Finland will apply protection more extensively than what is defined in the EU-wide decision. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 7 March.

5.12.2024 | The Government proposes amendments to the legislation on temporary protection. The aim is to streamline the granting of temporary protection from the perspective of both the beneficiaries and the authorities. The amendments concern people who have fled the war in Ukraine but also other possible situations of temporary protection in the future. The Government submitted the proposal for the amendments to the Aliens Act to Parliament on 5 December.

16.10.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal on temporary protection. As the crisis in Ukraine drags on, there is a need to reform the legislation on temporary protection. The project will prepare the necessary amendments to the Aliens Act concerning people who have fled the war in Ukraine but also other possible situations of temporary protection in the future. 

Projects and legislation Some of the projects, working groups and programmes currently underway in the Ministry of the Interior are outlined in these pages. The Government Project Register Hankeikkuna also contains information about current minist...

EU Civil Protection Mechanism helps countries confronted with overwhelming crises The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has become one of the most important instruments of international assistance in recent years. The Mechanism covers various natural ...

12.10.2022 | In August-September, Finland delivered a total of five trucks to Ukraine that contained civil defence equipment, hospital supplies and scanning equipment. The material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

12.5.2022 | As a Member State of the European Union, Finland will take responsibility for the migratory impact of the situation in Ukraine, and especially for protecting those fleeing war. Finland is also prepared to receive beneficiaries of temporary protection transferred from other countries as a part of joint EU measures. The Government expressed its position on such transfers in a Union communication to Parliament on 12 May.

8.7.2022 | The EU home affairs ministers will hold an informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 11 July in Prague. The meeting will be the first during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Ministers will discuss the effects of the war in Ukraine on the EU’s internal security, fight against child sexual abuse, and interoperability between EU information systems in the justice and home affairs sector.

3.3.2022 | Finland’s assistance includes emergency accommodation equipment for 5,000 people and a field kitchen to help people who have fled to Moldova from Ukraine. Material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

2.3.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Education Li Andersson stress the importance of smooth daily life for people who have fled Ukraine. Those who have secured a municipality of residence will have the same rights, services and duties as permanent residents in Finland.