Owing to the continuing unpredictable security situation and the ongoing Russian attacks on large parts of Ukrainian territory, the Federal Council decided on 8 October not to lift protection status S until 4 March 2027, unless there is a lasting improvement in the situation in Ukraine.
The Swiss parliament adopted the Friedli motion (24.3378) during its 2024 winter session. From 1 November, SEM will therefore distinguish between regions to which a return is considered reasonable or unreasonable when assessing new applications for protection status S. The new regulation will not apply to persons who already have protection status S in Switzerland or their family members who are still living in Ukraine (Art. 71 para. 1 and 3 AsylA).
SEM will continue to examine each application on a case-by-case basis. If it rejects an application for protection on the basis that the person comes from an area to which a return is considered reasonable, it will issue a removal order. However, if enforcement of the removal order is not permitted (Art. 83 para. 3 FNIA) or is unreasonable (Art. 83 para. 4 FNIA), the person will be granted temporary admission to Switzerland. Those excluded from protection status S may still apply for asylum in Switzerland.
The new regulation comes into force on 1 November and applies to all applications processed after this date, including those submitted prior to this date but processed after 31 October.
SEM defines the Ukrainian regions to which a return is considered reasonable or unreasonable. The list below will be updated if the situation changes.
SEM considers a return to the following oblasts to be reasonable (as at 8 October):
- Volyn
- Rivne
- Lviv
- Ternopil
- Zakarpattia
- Ivano-Frankivsk
- Chernivtsi
Last modification 07.10.2025
