THE MAIN PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC: ONE YEAR APART

Almost a year has passed since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion into Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Millions of Ukrainian refugees were forced to leave their country. They were received by neighbouring states as a gesture of solidarity. Many refugees were granted status, housing and other opportunities in the Slovak Republic. Now it is time to sum up the results of the social adaptation of Ukrainians in the country, because the first stress of acculturation has passed. This issue is important now both for Ukrainian refugees and for Slovak citizens, especially for volunteers and officials. Despite its timeliness, the topic has not been a subject of a special study neither in Slovakia nor abroad. Therefore, the aim of the article is to determine the main barriers which obstruct processes of intercultural communication and social adaptation of Ukrainian refugees. The research is based on the results of interviews with Ukrainian refugees and analysis of questionnaires combining with the author’s personal experience in this field. The types of adaptation problems and barriers for Ukrainian refugees, such as economic, socio-cultural and legal, have been identified. The detailed analysis of them may help to improve the social adaptation of refugees, to intensify intercultural dialogue and to reduce the social tension.