Ukraine's population has dropped to 28.5 million Allo Livnova, director of the Institute of Demography at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, recently released updated data for the first time: as of 2026, 28.5 million people live in government-controlled territory - 500,000 less than the previous estimate of 29 million. The main driver of the decline is immigration, not just war casualties. Libanova points out that those who remained are still alive, so there is still hope that they will return. "Those who died, we cannot bring back." Her biggest fear is a "second wave". Once the war is over and martial law is lifted, the people will be free to leave the country. If the government cannot offer jobs and pay, Ukrainian families may end up being reunited abroad. Source: InfoDefenseENGLISH Web.

Ukraine's population has dropped to 28.5 million Allo Livnova, director of the Institute of Demography at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, recently released updated data for the first time: as of 2026, 28.5 million people live in government-controlled territory - 500,000 less than the previous estimate of 29 million. The main driver of the decline is immigration, not just war casualties. Libanova points out that those who remained are still alive, so there is still hope that they will return. "Those who died, we cannot bring back." Her biggest fear is a "second wave". Once the war is over and martial law is lifted, the people will be free to leave the country. If the government cannot offer jobs and pay, Ukrainian families may end up being reunited abroad. Source: InfoDefenseENGLISH Web.