Ukrainians in Estonia (; ) are the third largest ethnic group in Estonia after Estonians and Russians and number 28,000. 4,000 out of them are citizens of Ukraine.
Most of the Ukrainians in Estonia live in Tallinn (2,92% of the whole population) and Harjumaa; some live in Tartu and Pärnu. The representatives of the Ukrainian ethnic minority have formed over 20 national-cultural organizations. Most of the Ukrainians in Estonia support the integration of non-Estonians into Estonian society, while retaining their own cultural and ethnic particularities.
History The first data on the number of ethnic Ukrainians on the territory of Estonia appeared only during the 1959 Soviet population census. In the 1922 census of the interwar Estonia, only the following nationalities were listed: Estonians, Russians, Germans, Swedes, Jews, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles, Finns, and Ingrians — therefore, Ukrainians either identified themselves as Russians or were counted among “other nationalities.” According to the 1934 census, there were 92 Ukrainians in Estonia.
According to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Estonia in 2011, there were more than 22,000 people from Ukraine living in the country, of whom over 4,000 held Ukrainian citizenship. The vast majority of them were blue-collar workers. Their compact settlements are found mainly in the largest cities of Estonia — Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, and Maardu. At the same time, a significant number of Ukrainians live in the northeastern region of Estonia (the cities of Narva, Sillamäe, Kohtla-Järve, and Jõhvi), where during the Soviet era, specialists in the chemical industry and miners from Ukraine were sent to work.
Demographics
According to the 2021 population census, the number of Ukrainians in Estonia amounted to 27,828 people (2.09% of the total population of Estonia; this number does not include refugees from Ukraine). In 2021:
15,450 Ukrainians (55.52% of all Ukrainians in Estonia) lived in Tallinn; 18,886 (67.87%) — in Harju County; 3,265 (11.73%) — in Ida-Viru County; 1,140 (4.1%) — in Narva; 1,107 (3.98%) — in Tartu; 1,079 (3.88%) — in Kohtla-Järve; 957 (3.44%) — in Maardu.
As of January 1, 2022, the number of Ukrainians in Estonia was 27,826 people (2.1% of the country’s population). After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to official data as of November 1, 2022, more than 115,000 Ukrainian refugees (including both ethnic Russians and ethnic Ukrainians) arrived in Estonia, of whom 62,656 people remained in the country. +Share of Ukrainians in the total population of Estonia’s counties in 2017, according to the Estonian Statistics Department:Total populationUkrainiansTotal populationUkrainiansperson%person%Estonia1,315,63523,1831.76%Pärnu82,5358521.03%Valga 30,0844702.59%Põlva27,9631420.51%Viljandi 47,2882430.51%Rapla34,0852080.61%Võru 33,5051120.33%Saare33,307720.22%Ida-Viru143,8803,3502.33% Tartu*145,5501,2230.84%Jõgeva 30,8401760.57%Harju*582,55615,0782.59%Lääne24,3012380.98% Hiiu9,335160.17%Lääne-Viru58,8556841.16% Järva30,3792970.98% * including in 2017 CitiesTotal populationUkrainians%Tallinn426,53812,3352,91Tartu93,124 9570,91 +The share of Ukrainians in the total population of Estonia’s counties in 2021, according to the population census:Total populationUkrainiansTotal populationUkrainians%%Estonia1,331,82427,8282,09%Pärnu85,7101,1711,37%Valga27,6514511,63%Põlva23,9911330,55%Viljandi45,4133150,69%Rapla33,5292470,74%Võru34,1801390,41%Saare31,292840,27%Ida-Viru132,7413,2652,46%Tartu*157,7601,5070,96%Jõgeva27,8581840,66%Harju*614,56718,8863,07%Lääne20,2291990,98%Hiiu8,497160,19%Lääne-Viru58,7098181,39%Järva29,6974131,39% * including in 2021 census CitiesTotal populationUkrainians%Tallinn437,81715,4503,53%Tartu98,313 1,1281,15% +The number of Ukrainians in Estonia, including in Tallinn, according to the All-Union population censuses of the USSR and the Statistics Department of EstoniaYearUkrainians in EstoniaUkrainians in Tallinnpersons% of total population of Estoniapersons% of total Ukrainians in Estonia1959 15,769 1,32 7 27746,21970↗ 28,085↗ 2,07↗ 13 30947,41979↗ 36,044↗ 2,46↗ 18 11650,21989↗ 48 271↗ 3,08....2000↘ 29,012↘ 2,12....2011↘ 22,573↘ 1,74↘ 15,10866,92012↗ 23,285↗ 1,76↘ 14,95664,22013↘ 22,972↘ 1,74↘ 14,84164,62014↘ 22,951→ 1,74↗ 14,85164,72015↘ 22,562↘ 1,72↗ 14,87365,92016↗ 23,256↗ 1,77↗ 15,03764,72017↘ 23,183↘ 1,76↗ 15,17965,52018↗ 23,310↗ 1,77↗ 12,51465,82019↗ 23,665↗ 1,79↗ 12,71765,52020↗ 24,897↗ 1,87↗ 13,55963,52021↗ 27,254↗ 2,05↗ 15,26561,92022↗ 27,826↗ 2,09↗ 15,44960,62023↗ 55,675↗ 4,08↗ 28,77551,7
Country of birth, citizenship, and native language +Countries of birth of Ukrainians in Estonia according to the population censuses of 2000, 2011, and 2021:Countries200020112021persons% of total Ukrainianspersons% of total Ukrainianspersons% of total UkrainiansEstonia7,89027,2%6,324↗ 28,06,087↘ 21,9Ukraine17,76661,2%14,015↘ 62,119 388↗ 69,7Russia2,1347,4%1,342↘ 5,91,351 ↘ 4,9Other countries1,2224,2%892 ↘ 4,01,002 ↘ 3,6Total29,01210022 573 10027 828 100 +Citizenship and native language of Ukrainians in Estonia according to the population censuses of 2000, 2011, and 2021:Year/native languageTotal UkrainiansEstonian citizenshipRussian citizenshipCitizenship of another countriesWithout citizenship2000 / Total29,0128,4235,2172,52112,851*2000 / Ukrainian11,9233,0102,2691,6654,979*2000 / Russian16,4865.0162,9278367,707*2000 / Estonian481352614109*2000 / Belarusian27451172000/ Other or undetermined954110524*2011 / Total22,5738,3834,0834,0236,0842011 / Ukrainian7,6012,1611,3142,2781,8482011 / Russian14,4615,8222,7531,7144,1722011 / Estonian456379917512011 / Other or undetermined5521714132021 / Total27,8287,9273,09412,4294,3782021 / Ukrainian11,9041,8578977,8711,2792021 / Russian15,1335,5192,1834,4073,0242021 / Estonian570462547562021 / Other or undetermined22189910419 *Including those whose citizenship was not determined.
Second nationality and second native language In the 2021 Estonian population census, the term “people of two nationalities” (Estonian: kaherahvuselised inimesed) was introduced for the first time. According to these data, 710 Ukrainians — i.e., 2.6% of all Ukrainians in the country — reported a second nationality. At the same time, 2,260 Russians and 1,180 Estonians indicated Ukrainian as their second nationality. +Ukrainians who indicated their second nationality in the 2021 census:First nationalitySecond nationalityBelarusianPolishJewishFinnishTotalUkrainian28026012050710 +Number of residents of Estonia who indicated “Ukrainian” as their second nationality in the 2021 census:First nationalitySecond nationality — Ukrainian (persons)Russian2,260Estonian1,180Total3,440 In the 2021 census, the concept of a “second native language” (Estonian: teine emakeel) was also introduced. A total of 3,910 residents of Estonia listed Ukrainian as their second native language. +Residents of Estonia who indicated Ukrainian as their second native language (2021):NationalitySecond native language — Ukrainian (persons)Russian3,810Estonian100Total3,910
Education +Ukrainians in Estonia aged 10 and older (2021 — aged 15 and older) by level of education according to population censusesEducation Level200020112021personsPercentage of total Ukrainians aged 10+ / 15+persons% of total Ukrainians aged 10+ / 15+persons.% of total Ukrainians aged 15+No education1,045 3,8%319 1,531 0,1Primary2,192 7,9%783 3,6334 1,3Basic3,76713,52,080 9,51,423 5,6Secondary6,98025,04,01218,34,36517,1Vocational, special and applied9,14532,810,47647,911,27444,1Higher4,02814,53,80417,47,62329,8Doctor of Science, Candidate of Science26 0,192 0,4157 0,6Unknown681 2,4315 1,4365 1,4Total27,86421,88125,572
Ukrainian organizations in Estonia
Representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in Estonia are united in more than twenty Ukrainian national and cultural societies. Some of them are part of the Congress of Ukrainians in Estonia and the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, while others operate independently. These societies function as autonomous regional organizations, each bringing together about fifty to seventy members.
The main focus of the activities of the Ukrainian diaspora organizations in Estonia is cultural and educational. To preserve national culture, native language, traditions, and customs of the Ukrainian people, concerts, exhibitions, and lectures on Ukrainian history are organized, as well as literary and musical evenings dedicated to anniversaries of prominent Ukrainian figures and significant dates in Ukraine’s history.
For many years, the Ukrainian Community of Estonia, founded in 1988 (Chairperson — Vera Konyk, since 2017 — Evhen Tsybulenko), was the only Ukrainian organization in the country whose work was aimed at meeting the cultural and educational needs of Ukrainians in Estonia and preserving their language and folk traditions. Its efforts to promote Ukrainian culture in Estonia were recognized in 2001 with an Honorary Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
In 2002, the Community joined the newly created Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia (Chairperson — Vera Konyk), which now unites more than ten organizations, including:
Union of Ukrainian Women of Estonia (founded June 1998, Chair — Liliya Chykalska); Scout Organization “Plast” (2002, Leader — Bohdan Liutiuk); Sports Club “Dnipro” (2003, Leader — Serhii Ishchenko); Ukrainian Community of Ida-Virumaa (2000, Chair — Nina Dyachenko); Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Society “Stozhary”, Maardu (2000, Chair — Leonid Chupryna); Ukrainian Community “Barvinok”, Rakvere (2004, Chair — Tetyana Lindberg); Ukrainian Society “Smerichka”, Oisu (2003, Chair — Anna Loovili); Ukrainian Community of Narva (1996, Chair — Halyna Malyarova); Ukrainian Society of Põlva (2004, Chair — Liliana Cherepakha).
The Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia is centered around the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which shares a building with the Ukrainian Cultural Center (Director — Anatolii Liutiuk). The church operates a Ukrainian Sunday school, a folk crafts school, and a small library.
In August 2007, the Director of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tallinn, artist and citizen of the Republic of Estonia A. K. Liutiuk, was awarded the title Honored Artist of Ukraine for his significant personal contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s international reputation, promoting its historical and modern achievements, and on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of Ukrainian independence.
Under the Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia operate various cultural groups, including:
Women’s vocal group “Echo” (founded 1989, Director — Raisa Demchuk), Choir “Mechta” (1998, Tallinn), Choir “Rodyna” (1998, Narva), Girls’ ensemble “Verbichenka” (2005, Narva), Girls’ ensemble “Dzherela” (2004, Maardu), Ukrainian theater studio “Artstudio” (1995, Tallinn), Ukrainian ritual theater “Vertep” (2001, Maardu), Ukrainian Literary Club (2003, Tallinn).
The Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia is a member of the Association of the Peoples of Estonia, the European Congress of Ukrainians, the World Congress of Ukrainians, and the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council. Its representatives participate in the Round Table of National Minorities under the President of Estonia.
The Union of Ukrainian Women of Estonia is a member of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations.
The Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia (AUOE), founded in May 2000 (Chair — Volodymyr Palamar), includes:
Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Society “Prosvita”, Tallinn (Chair — Oksana Mamutova); Union of Ukrainian Youth in Estonia (Chair — Volodymyr Palamar); Ukrainian Community of Sillamäe “Vodohrai” (Chair — L. Zhytnyk); Youth and Children’s Dance Ensemble “Kolor”, Tallinn (Chair — Nina Koort); Cultural and Educational Society “Orpheus”, Tapa (Chair — Liubov Laur);