As a result of the war, two Ukrainian cities ceased to be million-plus cities, and one is preparing to become one

These conclusions are presented in a Forbes Ukraine study, which compared the population of the ten largest cities in the country before the start of the full-scale invasion and in 2026.

Before 2022, Ukraine had four cities with a population of over one million people. Now, only Kyiv and Kharkiv retain this status. According to Forbes Ukraine's estimates, in mid-2026, Kyiv had about 3.8 million people, Dnipro — approximately 975 thousand, and Odesa — about 907 thousand.

The most difficult demographic situation has developed in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. The number of residents is influenced by proximity to the combat zone, the threat of shelling, and uncertainty regarding safety.

At the same time, cities in western Ukraine have significantly increased their population.

Lviv now has about 986,000 residents — 44% more than before, or almost 300,000 people. In Uzhhorod and Lutsk, the population has grown by almost 50%, in Rivne — by 44%, in Chernivtsi — by 23%.

The main reason for this growth is the relocation of Ukrainians seeking safer places to live.

However, migration from east to west does not fully reflect demographic changes. Front-line cities simultaneously lose some of their permanent residents and receive displaced persons from smaller settlements where the security situation is even worse.

For example, in Kharkiv, as of October 2026, more than 227,000 internally displaced persons were registered. According to the city council, about a thousand new displaced persons arrive here weekly, mainly from other settlements in the Kharkiv region.

In total, more than 730,000 displaced persons are registered in four major cities in eastern and southern Ukraine. Kharkiv has more than 227,000, Dnipro — more than 203,000, Zaporizhzhia — about 161,000, Odesa — almost 140,000.

Thus, despite a reduction in the total population, these cities remain important centers for receiving people evacuating from dangerous areas.

A separate question is whether displaced persons will stay in their new places of residence permanently. A study by the International Organization for Migration for April — June 2026 showed that the longer a person lives away from their native home, the more often they consider settling in a new place.

Among Ukrainians who moved more than a year ago, 43% lean towards integrating into the communities that accepted them.

However, economic difficulties remain a serious obstacle. According to the organization, 87% of displaced families were forced to cut expenses or look for other ways to save. Approximately 75% lost their savings, more than half limited healthcare spending, and one in five families agreed to move to lower-quality housing.

Earlier it was reported that over the past 25 years, Ukraine's population has decreased by approximately 30%. This is one of the worst indicators in Europe, where in several countries, the number of residents, on the contrary, is growing. For comparison, Russia's population decreased by approximately 1% during this period.

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