Inside Ukraine’s Displacement Crisis with UNHCR’s Lidiia Kuzmenko

This episode of the Lawyering Peace Podcast’s Ukraine Series features an in depth conversation with Lidiia Kuzmenko, Protection Officer at the UNHCR Ukraine Country Office, on the profound human impact of internal displacement during Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. With more than five million people uprooted inside Ukraine, Lidiia offers expert insight into the daily realities facing displaced families, the legal and administrative barriers they encounter, and the practical meaning of “protection” in UNHCR’s mandate. She discusses challenges related to documentation, housing, livelihoods, and access to services, as well as Ukraine’s evolving policy framework and emerging innovations in supporting IDPs. The episode explores the conditions required for safe and voluntary return, the resilience of displaced communities, and the long term reforms needed to ensure durable solutions. Above all, Lidiia reminds listeners that every statistic reflects an individual story of loss, strength, and determination to rebuild.