Switzerland May Withdraw Protection From Thousands of Ukrainians: Do “Safe Regions” Really Exist?

In Switzerland, there is an ongoing debate about the future of the S protection status for Ukrainians. Parliament and several cantonal governments are pushing for changes that could affect tens of thousands of Ukrainians living here.

What Changes Are Being Discussed?

 • Temporary collective protection would no longer be given to people coming from so-called “safe” regions of Ukraine.

 • Only those who lived in active war zones or in occupied territories would remain eligible.

 • The proposal was introduced by SVP senator Esther Friedli.

These stricter rules could come into effect in the coming months. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is currently working on defining what counts as a “safe” region, and is consulting with Norway, which has already applied such a regional system for more than a year.

How Could This Affect People?

 • At present, about 70,000 Ukrainians live in Switzerland.

 • According to SEM, more than a third come from regions already considered “safe” in Norway.

 • This means that over 20,000 people might lose the chance to extend their S status.

 • Some cantons (Lucerne, Bern, Zurich) want the new rule to apply not only to new arrivals, but also to people who already hold S status.

Who Is Against These Changes?

 • The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urges Switzerland not to go ahead: “There are no truly safe regions — the war is unpredictable, the front line shifts, and missile and drone attacks can strike any city.”

 • Basel-Stadt canton argues that checking each case would become as complicated as the regular asylum procedure.

 • Humanitarian organizations, including Caritas, warn that thousands of people will instead start applying for individual asylum — as already happened in Norway.

Who Is In Favour?

 • Michaela Tschuor, President of the Lucerne cantonal government: “Equal treatment must apply to everyone. If a region is considered safe, people from there should not receive collective protection.”

 • Philipp Müller (Bern, FDP): “This is a logical and consistent step.”

 • Mario Fehr (Zurich, independent): “It makes little sense to apply the rule only to newcomers.”

However, State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has rejected calls to extend the rule to people who already hold S status. The parliamentary decision only applies to new applications.

A Different View from Aargau Canton

Interestingly, not everyone in the SVP supports the proposal. Jean-Pierre Gallati, member of the Aargau cantonal government, warns:

“This will overwhelm the system. Tens of thousands of people could end up staying in Switzerland without the right to work, making integration even more difficult.”

 

The Voice of the Ukrainian Community

Father Ivan Machuzhak, chaplain at the Winterthur Cantonal Hospital, says:

“Who can really say what is safe and what is not? Today the front line moves, tomorrow there is new shelling. Such decisions do not give Ukrainians a sense of security. The worst thing is when decisions are made about Ukrainians without listening to them.”

 

🔗 Source: NZZ