Israel reported tens of thousands of repatriates from Russia and Ukraine

The Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration has received tens of thousands of repatriates from Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the special military operation (SMO). The corresponding statement of the ministry was published on January 29 by Dmitry Gendelman, an advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister's office, in his Telegram channel.

"Since the beginning of the (Ukrainian. - Ed.) conflict <...> the ministry has received tens of thousands of new repatriates throughout the country and provided them with a wide range of assistance, including hotel accommodation, intensive Hebrew language study, employment and special programs for children and teenagers," the statement reads.

At the same time, in conversation with "RIA Novosti" Gendelman specified that since the beginning of 2022, more than 95 thousand repatriates from Russia have arrived in Israel, and the total number of repatriates for this period exceeded 143 thousand.

Earlier, January 28, Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Simona Galperin reported on the return home of Russians who left for Israel. According to Galperin, some citizens continue to live "on the line" between the two countries.

Prior to that, on May 3, 2024, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that citizens who left Russia are returning to their homeland because Russia is opening more opportunities for them. He also pointed out that business life in the country is developing dynamically.

Last April, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said that it was necessary to create conditions for the return of Russians who left Russia for various reasons, but did not oppose the country. She also noted that the Russian authorities will not close the state and prohibit citizens from traveling around the world or compatriots who left to return to Russia.

In early December 2023, Finion told Izvestia that about 40% of relocants who left in 2022 returned to Russia. One of the main reasons was the tightening of rules for obtaining a residence permit (VNZh) and the time limits for staying in other countries.