![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/651644565_highres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Ukrainian frontline evacuees relocated to Transcarpathian region <\/p>\n
Keystone \/ EPA \/ Igor Tkachenko <\/p>\n
Listen to the article <\/p>\n
Listening the article <\/p>\n
Toggle language selector <\/p>\n
English (US) <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
English (British) <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Generated with artificial intelligence. <\/p>\n
Switzerland will set limits on admitting some Ukrainians in November, saying seven regions of the war-torn nation are safe enough for people to stay. Some people closer to the fighting doubt that\u2019s the case and point to ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks in some of the same areas.\n<\/p>\n
This content was published on <\/p>\n
October 18, 2025 – 10:30\n<\/p>\n
\n Elena Servettaz <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/elena-servettaz-profileImage-47952835.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n I cover international relations with a focus on Switzerland, lead journalistic investigations, and conduct deeply personal interviews on challenging topics.
\nOver 25 years in journalism. Graduated from Moscow State University’s Faculty of Journalism and the French Press Institute in Paris. Former TV\/radio host in France and Russia. I am a published author and documentary filmmaker who has interviewed presidents and rock stars. <\/p>\n
Other language: 1 <\/p>\n
EN original <\/p>\n
\n Italiano <\/p>\n
\n it <\/p>\n
Profughi ucraini, la Svizzera si discosta dalla politica UE\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Read more: Profughi ucraini, la Svizzera si discosta dalla politica UE Although Switzerland followed the European Union in extending its temporary protection Status S for Ukrainians to March 2027, the addition of geographical limits on who it may accept marks a split with its EU neighbours, who grant protection without regional distinctions.<\/p>\n From November\u00a01, under new parliamentary rules,<\/a> the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will tighten criteria<\/a> for temporary protection by\u00a0classifying Ukrainian regions as\u00a0either \u201csafe\u201d or\u00a0\u201cunsafe\u201d for return.<\/p>\n Applicants from the regions of Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi risk rejection, though current holders of\u00a0status\u00a0S and their families are unaffected.<\/p>\n Norway leads the way<\/p>\n Non-EU Norway revised its rules on\u00a0temporary protection for Ukrainians before Switzerland, expanding the listExternal link<\/a> of\u00a0regions considered safe for return in January 2025.<\/p>\n The Norwegian Ministry of\u00a0Justice and Public Security told Swissinfo that since September 2024, Ukrainians arriving from \u201csufficiently safe regions\u201d are no\u00a0longer granted collective temporary protection and must apply for asylum individually.<\/p>\n Department adviser Raheela Chaudhry said the security assessment is\u00a0carried out by\u00a0the immigration authority UDI using independent sources such as\u00a0Landinfo, a unit specialised in country-of-origin information, which in turns gathers information from many different sources.<\/p>\n \u201cThe list of\u00a0safe regions may change depending on\u00a0developments,\u201d she noted, adding that it\u00a0was expanded to\u00a014\u00a0regions in\u00a0January 2025. The ministry said the move aimed to\u00a0\u201ckeep the influx to\u00a0Norway controlled and sustainable\u201d after arrivals in\u00a0late 2023 exceeded the combined inflows of\u00a0all other Nordic states. While numbers have since dropped, \u201cthe isolated effect of\u00a0this measure cannot be\u00a0quantified\u201d, Chaudhry said.<\/p>\n \u2018Safe\u2019 regions under fire<\/p>\n Ivan Gomza, <\/a>professor at the Graduate Department of Social Sciences and HumanitiesExternal link<\/a> of the Kyiv School of Economics, told Swissinfo that the logic of\u00a0dividing Ukraine into safe and unsafe regions was\u00a0only partly convincing.<\/p>\n Ivan Gomza <\/p>\n Courtesy, Professor Ivan Gomza <\/p>\n He explained that Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi remain among the relatively safe regions of Ukraine, though even these areas have recently been targeted by Russian strikes.<\/p>\n Reuters reported that in August 2025 a Russian missile attack on an American-owned enterprise in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia, injured 15 people. <\/p>\n EPA\/ZAKARPATTIA REGION PROSECUTOR\u2019S OFFICE <\/p>\n Reuters reported that in August 2025 a Russian missile attackExternal link<\/a> on an American-owned enterprise in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia, injured 15 people, and in July 2025 drone debris killed two civiliansExternal link<\/a> in Chernivtsi during a large-scale overnight assault.<\/p>\n Gomza argued that labelling Lviv, Rivne and Ivano-Frankivsk as\u00a0safe regions was\u00a0questionable.External link<\/a> \u201cThese cities regularly suffer attacks and energy disruptions. Drawing such a\u00a0line will be\u00a0difficult to\u00a0justify,\u201d he said. He warned that the policy would inevitably be\u00a0seen as\u00a0unfair. \u201cIn\u00a02023 people were permitted to\u00a0enter the\u00a0EU regardless of their region of\u00a0domicile, while today some wanting to\u00a0do\u00a0so will see the door barred.\u201d<\/p>\n \u0441loseUp<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Swissinfo\u2019s new first-person mini-documentary format.\u00a0Watch the full version on YouTube:<\/strong><\/p>\n External Content <\/p>\n Norway raised financial support to Ukraine<\/p>\n Despite being stricter on temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, Norway has sharply increased its support for Ukraine. The total amount will reach 85\u00a0billion Norwegian kroner (CHF6.7\u00a0billion), which is\u00a050\u00a0billion kroner more than previously planned.<\/p>\n The funds will go\u00a0to\u00a0military support such as the procurement of\u00a0air defence systems, artillery ammunition, drones and the strengthening of\u00a0Ukraine\u2019s maritime capabilities, including through cooperation with its defence industry.<\/p>\n In\u00a0addition, Norway will lead a\u00a0joint initiative of\u00a0the Nordic and Baltic countries to\u00a0equip and train a\u00a0Ukrainian brigade, taking primary responsibility for the training of\u00a0personnel.<\/p>\n \u201cRussia\u2019s war against Ukraine is a watershed event for Europe and poses a serious threat to European peace and security,\u201d Norway\u2019s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said in April. \u201cRussia\u2019s war of aggression is continuing unabated, and Russia is rapidly rearming its military. I am therefore very pleased that all the political parties in the Storting [Norwegian parliament] have endorsed this increase in our support.\u201d<\/p>\n Switzerland\u2019s support focuses on refugees<\/p>\n Unlike in Norway, Switzerland\u2019s contribution has been overwhelmingly tied to the costs of hosting and integrating Ukrainians within Switzerland, with only a fraction directed to direct aid for Ukraine itself.<\/p>\n Status S in Switzerland <\/p>\n Holders of\u00a0an\u00a0S permit in\u00a0Switzerland are entitled to\u00a0a\u00a0range of\u00a0benefits and support. These include access to\u00a0medical care, financial assistance, and accommodation either with private hosts or\u00a0in\u00a0housing provided by\u00a0the state, such as\u00a0in\u00a0Geneva.<\/p>\n This programme provides CHF3,000 ($3,750) per person per year to\u00a0cantons to\u00a0support integration measures. Children can attend school, and adults have the possibility to\u00a0enrol in language courses. Permit holders also have the right to\u00a0work in\u00a0Switzerland and are allowed to travel freely across the Schengen area.<\/p>\n On October 8 the Swiss government decidedExternal link<\/a> to maintain protection Status S for individuals seeking protection from Ukraine until at least March 4, 2027. However, from November\u00a01, 2025, people with\u00a0Status S will only be\u00a0allowed to\u00a0stay in\u00a0Ukraine for up\u00a0to 15\u00a0days per half-year, instead of\u00a015\u00a0days per quarter under the current rules.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0the Kiel Institute for the World Economy Ukraine Support TrackerExternal link<\/a>, Switzerland has allocated \u20ac4.27\u00a0billion (CHF3.97 billion) to Ukraine, almost entirely accounted for by\u00a0refugee-related costs, while its total aid excluding refugee expenditures amounts to\u00a0just \u20ac930 million. <\/p>\n Norway has provided \u20ac6.49 billion in\u00a0total aid, excluding refugee expenditures, alongside \u20ac3.75 billion allocated solely for refugee costs.<\/p>\n The EU maintains uniform protection<\/p>\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"Ivan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ivan-Gomza-Headshot-2.3-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Russia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_673557595_highres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Newsletter](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/newsletter_teaser_foreign_affairs.jpg\")
<\/p>\n