Ukrainians in Estonia

Ukrainians in Estonia are the third largest ethnic group in Estonia after Estonians and Russians and number 28,000. 4,000 out of them are citizens of Ukraine.
Most of the Ukrainians in Estonia live in Tallinn and Harjumaa; some live in Tartu and Pärnu. The representatives of the Ukrainian ethnic minority have formed over 20 national-cultural organizations. Most of the Ukrainians in Estonia support the integration of non-Estonians into Estonian society, while retaining their own cultural and ethnic particularities.

History

The first data on the number of ethnic Ukrainians on the territory of Estonia appeared only during the 1959 Soviet population census. In the 1922 census of the First Estonian Republic, only the following nationalities were listed: Estonians, Russians, Germans, Swedes, Jews, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles, Finns, and Ingrians — therefore, Ukrainians either identified themselves as Russians or were counted among “other nationalities.” According to the 1934 census, there were 92 Ukrainians in Estonia.
According to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Estonia in 2011, there were more than 22,000 people from Ukraine living in the country, of whom over 4,000 held Ukrainian citizenship. The vast majority of them were blue-collar workers. Their compact settlements are found mainly in the largest cities of Estonia — Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, and Maardu. At the same time, a significant number of Ukrainians live in the northeastern region of Estonia, where during the Soviet era, specialists in the chemical industry and miners from Ukraine were sent to work.

Demographics

According to the 2021 population census, the number of Ukrainians in Estonia amounted to 27,828 people. In 2021:

15,450 Ukrainians lived in Tallinn;
18,886 — in Harju County;
3,265 — in Ida-Viru County;
1,140 — in Narva;
1,107 — in Tartu;
1,079 — in Kohtla-Järve;
957 — in Maardu.

As of January 1, 2022, the number of Ukrainians in Estonia was 27,826 people. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to official data as of November 1, 2022, more than 115,000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Estonia, of whom 62,656 people remained in the country.
* including in 2017
* ''including in 2021 census''

Country of birth, citizenship, and native language

Year/native language	Total Ukrainians	Estonian citizenship	Russian citizenship	Citizenship of another countries	Without citizenship
2000 / 'Total	29,012	8,423	5,217	2,521	12,851*
2000 / Ukrainian	11,923	3,010	2,269	1,665	4,979*
2000 / Russian	16,486	5.016	2,927	836	7,707*
2000 / Estonian	481	352	6	14	109*
2000 / Belarusian	27	4	5	1	17
2000/ Other or undetermined	95	41	10	5	24*
2011 / Total	22,573	8,383	4,083	4,023	6,084
2011 / Ukrainian	7,601	2,161	1,314	2,278	1,848
2011 / Russian	14,461	5,822	2,753	1,714	4,172
2011 / Estonian	456	379	9	17	51
2011 / Other or undetermined	55	21	7	14	13
2021 / Total	27,828	7,927	3,094	12,429	4,378'
2021 / Ukrainian	11,904	1,857	897	7,871	1,279
2021 / Russian	15,133	5,519	2,183	4,407	3,024
2021 / Estonian	570	462	5	47	56
2021 / Other or undetermined	221	89	9	104	19

*''Including those whose citizenship was not determined.''

Second nationality and second native language

In the 2021 Estonian population census, the term “people of two nationalities” was introduced for the first time. According to these data, 710 Ukrainians — i.e., 2.6% of all Ukrainians in the country — reported a second nationality. At the same time, 2,260 Russians and 1,180 Estonians indicated Ukrainian as their second nationality.
In the 2021 census, the concept of a “second native language” was also introduced. A total of 3,910 residents of Estonia listed Ukrainian as their second native language.

Nationality	Second native language — Ukrainian
Russian	3,810
Estonian	100
Total	3,910

Ukrainian organizations in Estonia

Representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in Estonia are united in more than twenty Ukrainian national and cultural societies. Some of them are part of the Congress of Ukrainians in Estonia and the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, while others operate independently. These societies function as autonomous regional organizations, each bringing together about fifty to seventy members.
The main focus of the activities of the Ukrainian diaspora organizations in Estonia is cultural and educational. To preserve national culture, native language, traditions, and customs of the Ukrainian people, concerts, exhibitions, and lectures on Ukrainian history are organized, as well as literary and musical evenings dedicated to anniversaries of prominent Ukrainian figures and significant dates in Ukraine’s history.
For many years, the Ukrainian Community of Estonia, founded in 1988, was the only Ukrainian organization in the country whose work was aimed at meeting the cultural and educational needs of Ukrainians in Estonia and preserving their language and folk traditions. Its efforts to promote Ukrainian culture in Estonia were recognized in 2001 with an Honorary Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
In 2002, the Community joined the newly created Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia, which now unites more than ten organizations, including:

Union of Ukrainian Women of Estonia ;
Scout Organization “Plast” ;
Sports Club “Dnipro” ;
Ukrainian Community of Ida-Virumaa ;
Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Society “Stozhary”, Maardu ;
Ukrainian Community “Barvinok”, Rakvere ;
Ukrainian Society “Smerichka”, Oisu ;
Ukrainian Community of Narva ;
Ukrainian Society of Põlva.

The Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia is centered around the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which shares a building with the Ukrainian Cultural Center. The church operates a Ukrainian Sunday school, a folk crafts school, and a small library.
In August 2007, the Director of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tallinn, artist and citizen of the Republic of Estonia A. K. Liutiuk, was awarded the title Honored Artist of Ukraine for his significant personal contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s international reputation, promoting its historical and modern achievements, and on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of Ukrainian independence.
Under the Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia operate various cultural groups, including:

Women’s vocal group “Echo”,
Choir “Mechta”,
Choir “Rodyna”,
Girls’ ensemble “Verbichenka”,
Girls’ ensemble “Dzherela”,
Ukrainian theater studio “Artstudio”,
Ukrainian ritual theater “Vertep”,
Ukrainian Literary Club.

The Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia is a member of the Association of the Peoples of Estonia, the European Congress of Ukrainians, the World Congress of Ukrainians, and the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council. Its representatives participate in the Round Table of National Minorities under the President of Estonia.
The Union of Ukrainian Women of Estonia is a member of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations.
The Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, founded in May 2000, includes:

Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Society “Prosvita”, Tallinn ;
Union of Ukrainian Youth in Estonia ;
Ukrainian Community of Sillamäe “Vodohrai” ;
Youth and Children’s Dance Ensemble “Kolor”, Tallinn ;
Cultural and Educational Society “Orpheus”, Tapa ;
Ukrainian Society of Pärnu “Vitchyzna” ;
Ukrainian Cultural Society “Promin”, Tartu.

Within the AUOE function the academic choir “Ukraina” and the women’s vocal ensemble “Sosedki”.
In 2001, the Association received an Honorary Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for its contribution to promoting a positive image of Ukraine in the world and its active social work.
Among the amateur art groups of the Ukrainian diaspora in Estonia, the folk ensemble “Zhurba”, founded in 1992, is particularly well known. Its main goal is the revival of Ukrainian folk songs, their popularization among both Ukrainian and Estonian audiences, and the introduction of Estonians to Ukrainian folk clothing, rituals, and traditions.
The ensemble is a member of the International Association of National Cultural Societies “Lira” and the Estonian Folklore Society. In May 2000, with the support of Radio 4, the Ministry of Culture of Estonia, and the Tallinn Department of Culture, the group released an audio cassette. In 2004, it was certified by the Estonian Folklore Society and awarded the highest category. In November 2004, by decision of the Collegium of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine, the ensemble Zhurba received the honorary title “People’s Amateur Ensemble”.

Ensuring the cultural, linguistic, and other rights of the Ukrainian diaspora

According to the Constitution of Estonia, the development of the Estonian nation and the preservation of the cultural traditions of the Estonian people are the main goals of Estonian statehood. At the same time, for non-Estonians living in Estonia, the country's constitution guarantees the opportunity to preserve their language and cultural identity, primarily through the establishment of cultural societies and the provision of education in their native language.
For the Ukrainian population of Estonia, every Saturday on the fourth channel of Estonian Radio, the Ukrainian-language radio program “Chervona Kalyna” is broadcast, covering the socio-political and cultural life of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora in Estonia. Ukrainian weekend schools have been established and are operating in the Ukrainian associations of Tallinn, Sillamäe, Narva, and Maardu.
In addition, a weekly Ukrainian-language children’s program titled “Lyusterko” is aired on Estonian radio. Its main goal is to help children preserve their native language. The program features Ukrainian songs and fairy tales, as well as various educational and entertaining content for children, including material prepared and provided by the National Radio Company of Ukraine.
From 1999 to 2003, the Ukrainian Association of Estonia published a Ukrainian newspaper titled “Struny”, but its publication was discontinued due to a lack of funding.
Prominent Ukrainians and representatives of Estonia’s scientific, cultural, and artistic elite include sculptor Ivan Zubaka; artists Anatolii Strakhov, Yaryna Ilo, Anatolii Liutiuk, and Nina Vinnik; actors Yevhen Haiduk and Aleksandr Ivashkevich; musician Ruslan Trochynskyi; theater director Yurii Mykhailiov; historian Borys Dubovyk; professor of Slavic philology at the University of Tartu, Oleksandr Dulichenko, and his colleague Lyudmyla Dulichenko; and professor of international law and publicist Yevhen Tsybulenko.
The vast majority of Ukrainians — permanent residents of Estonia who have chosen to build their lives in this country — view positively the idea of integrating ethnic non-Estonians into Estonian society while preserving their own culture, language, and national identity. The Estonian state has created the necessary conditions to support this process.

Ukrainian refugees in Estonia

According to a decision of the Government of Estonia, Ukrainian citizens and their family members who fled the country following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, are granted temporary protection — that is, a residence permit valid for one year. People who left Ukraine earlier but cannot return due to the ongoing hostilities are allowed to stay in Estonia without a visa.
According to the statistics of reception and information centers established for war refugees, from the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine until 31 May 2023, a total of 122,554 war refugees arrived in Estonia from Ukraine. Of these, 55,792 left the country, while 66,762 remained in Estonia; among them, 37,972 people registered.
As of 18 November 2023, 32,146 Ukrainian refugees had registered their place of residence in Estonia; as of 16 February 2024, this number had risen to 32,505. As of 24 April 2023, 48% of registered Ukrainian refugees were living in Tallinn.
As of 31 March 2023, 37% of Ukrainian refugees were under 20 years old, 58% were aged 20–64, and 6% were 65 years and older.
As of 31 October 2023, 4,112 Ukrainian refugees were registered with the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, and as of 31 January 2024, the number was 3,980.
In Estonia’s education system, as of 2 October 2023, there were 8,919 Ukrainian students registered, with the largest number — 4,924 — in Harju County. Among them, 5,942 studied in Estonian, 304 were enrolled in intensive Estonian language immersion programs, and 2,637 studied in Russian.
In 2022, the School of Freedom was established at the Tallinn Tõnismäe State Gymnasium to serve Ukrainian refugees. The school accommodates 800 students in grades 7–12. Instruction at the School of Freedom follows the language immersion method, with at least 60% of lessons taught in Estonian and up to 40% in Ukrainian.