TRANSFORMATION OF THE NATIONAL IDENTITY OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN THE PROGNOSTIC DIMENSION OF 2026: POLITICO-MYTHOLOGICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive political analysis of the transformation of Ukrainian refugees' national identity within the context of the prolonged migration crisis as of 2026. The author examines the dynamics of identification parameters among forced migrants, highlighting the risks of ‘silent assimilation’ and the erosion of the national core under the pressure of long-term residence in a culturally distinct environment. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the application of a politico-mythological approach to explain the resilience of national self-awareness. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that, amidst the territorial rupture with the state centre, regional identity and local political myths become key psychological stabilisers (‘anchors’) of national self-perception. The study analyses empirical data from international institutions (UNHCR, IOM) and prognostic reports for 2024–2026, identifying a trend towards the formation of ‘hybrid loyalty’ within the Ukrainian diaspora. The author substantiates the necessity of shifting from traditional repatriation strategies to an innovative ‘networked nation’ model. It is argued that preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and agency in the long term depends on implementing instruments of extraterritorial political loyalty, notably multiple citizenship and digital subjectivity via state platforms. Special attention is devoted to the methodology of structuring political space, where identity is viewed as the result of continuous mythologisation and institutional support for ties with the motherland. Recommendations for public policy are formulated, aimed at preventing the destruction of the state’s national body and converting the migration challenge into a resource for global influence through the development of ‘global Ukrainian’ network structures