Ido Vock

UK net migration reached a record 606,000 in 2022, after immigration of 1.163 million and emigration of 557,000. Comparable 2021 data put UK net migration at 488,000, above Germany’s roughly 329,000 and France’s 161,000. Migration patterns were shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and UK-specific schemes for Hong Kong residents and Afghans, but most recent UK arrivals came for work or study. Although Brexit was widely seen as a vote to reduce immigration, migration increased afterward because of higher non-EU migration and the UK economy’s reliance on foreign labour. High immigration has also contributed to political backlashes across Europe.

Ukraine’s revival of early 20th‑century nationalist figures such as Stepan Bandera, Roman Shukhevych and Symon Petliura has stirred criticism from allies including Poland, Germany and Israel due to these figures’ links to mass atrocities. Their growing veneration is tied to Ukraine’s search for historical symbols of resistance against Russia, particularly during the current war, even as these legacies conflict with the nation’s modern multicultural character. Experts argue that selective memory obscures past crimes and risks alienating partners, though some Ukrainian politicians insist controversial nationalist leaders will remain national heroes.