Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are formally recognised under Law No. 1706-VII of November 2014 “On Ensuring Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons,” which codifies a national registration system, entitlements to temporary accommodation, social assistance and the right to return when conditions allow. The law obliges IDPs to register their place of factual residence and grants them the right to education, healthcare and social benefits, mirroring certain aspects of international guidelines. Despite these provisions, implementation challenges—such as registry completeness and regional variation in service delivery—affect the realisation of rights for many displaced by conflict since 2014. The IDP populations in Ukraine include individuals primarily from regions directly affected by the conflict. These groups reside in various settings, including collective sites, urban areas, and temporary shelters, with many remaining in areas under government control. Ukraine's civil society plays a crucial role in advocating for legislative reforms and supporting recovery efforts. Local organizations are active in providing legal aid, psychosocial support, and community-based protection, complementing the government's efforts to address the needs of displaced populations.

International protection standards entered domestic law through the Law of Ukraine “On Refugees and Persons in Need of Complementary or Temporary Protection” of 8 July 2011, which introduced two forms of protection: full refugee status in accordance with the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and complementary protection for individuals fleeing indiscriminate violence or human-rights violations; Amendments in 2014 refined eligibility criteria and expanded procedural safeguards, including exemptions from penalties for irregular entry and the provision of legal aid at initial determination stages. Rights under this framework encompass access to employment, education and social services on par with Ukrainian nationals, while provisions also outline conditions for status withdrawal and loss.

In April 2022, UNHCR signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with three key Ministries with the aim of further fostering alignment between UNHCR’ s activities and government social programmes, thereby reinforcing national systems and minimizing parallel systems and mitigating potential dependence on humanitarian aid. In January 2023, UNHCR signed another MoU, with the Ministry of Restoration, on the “ Ukraine is Home”  joint cooperation platform. The MoUs, in line with UNHCR’ s wider strategy, also work towards incorporating sustainable and durable solutions in the humanitarian response. 

In 2001, a new Citizenship Law of Ukraine introduced a simplified procedure for acquiring Ukrainian nationality as a result of which applicants no longer had to renounce their previous nationality (becoming stateless in the process) before applying for Ukrainian citizenship. The previous requirements for Ukrainian language proficiency and five years of lawful residence were also waived for persons with links to Ukraine.