The article deals with the problems of integration of internally forced migrants in Ukraine in the context of a protracted military and political conflict. The definition and essence of the concept “integration of migrants” in the context of forced internal migration in Ukraine are considered. The state of forced migration in the country as a result of a long-term military and political conflict is analyzed. Internally displaced person (IDP) is considered as a specific category of internal forced migrants. The main indicators of IDP integration are identified as employment opportunities, access to health care and social services, availability of housing, access to education and training for children and adults, communication and social contacts, and the opportunity to vote. The nature, content and participants of the actual process of integration of internally displaced persons are established. It is specified that the success of integration is determined by the combined active interaction of three main factors: government policy on IDP integration; the willingness of the local community to accept IDPs and the desire of IDPs to integrate into the local community. Indicators and aspects of forced relocation, which should be taken into account by the Government’s policy in the process of developing tools for the integration of migrants, are formulated. The challenges faced by migrants as well as residents of host communities are analyzed. Teachers of the displaced university are considered as a specific focus group for a sociological survey of IDP integration. Indicators of forced migrants’ self-assessment of their integration level into local communities are analyzed. The indicators of integration of teachers in the relocated university are compared with similar indicators in Ukraine as a whole. An assessment of the level of trust of displaced teachers in the local community and migrant colleagues is made. The main reasons for the lack of full trust of migrants in local residents are identified. A sociological survey of displaced teachers of the relocated university shows a lack of their integration into the local community and a negative social and psychological state. The inability to restore the pre-crisis level of well-being, unsatisfactory living conditions, latent social conflicts on political and cultural grounds and a low level of trust in local residents hinder the integration process. Ways to strengthen and deepen the integration of migrants into host communities are identified. The migrants are suggested to be considered a valuable human resource that has professional knowledge and experience, the initiator of starting a new business and a carrier of culture.
internal forced migration, integration of migrants, internally displaced person, host community, conditions of integration, National Monitoring System, integration indicators, self-assessment of integration, displaced university, trust