REMAKING research featured on German radio
Anna Oechslen, partner of REMAKING at the Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS), was interviewed by Radioeins, the public radio station operated by Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb), as part of its science programme Die Profis.
The interview, broadcast on 29 August 2026, focused on displaced Ukrainians who are currently living in Germany while continuing to work remotely for employers in Ukraine.
During the interview, Anna Oechslen presented findings from the REMAKING project and discussed both the opportunities remote work can offer and the financial, social and emotional challenges that can arise in the context of forced migration.
For many displaced Ukrainians, continuing in their previous jobs was initially understood as a temporary arrangement. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many believed they would remain abroad for only “two or three months.” Several years later, however, their situation has become much more permanent.
One of the main difficulties identified in the research is the mismatch between Ukrainian salaries and the higher cost of living in Germany. Remote work can help people maintain employment and professional ties with Ukraine, but it does not necessarily guarantee financial stability in the host country.
The research also highlights the difficult working conditions some displaced people face. Anna described the experience of a woman living in a small apartment with her children and her father, who required care. With no separate workspace available, “she had to make work calls from the bathroom” in order to find privacy.
Continuing to work remotely for an employer in Ukraine can also affect integration into life in Germany. Remote workers may have less time to attend language courses, deal with administrative procedures or establish new social relationships. One participant described this experience by saying: “I arrived in an apartment, but I did not arrive in a city.”
The interview also contrasted the situation of displaced Ukrainian workers with the conventional image of digital nomads. While digital nomads are usually able to choose where they live and work, displaced people have not moved voluntarily and may face insecure living arrangements, financial pressure and continuing concern for relatives and friends in Ukraine.
The research forms part of REMAKING’s case study on enforced migration workers, which examines the experiences of displaced Ukrainians in Germany and the Czech Republic and explores the relationship between remote work, migration, employment, care responsibilities and integration.
Radioeins is a public radio station serving audiences in Berlin and Brandenburg, with a strong focus on current affairs, culture, science and society. Its programme Die Profis regularly features researchers and experts discussing current scientific topics with a broad public audience.
Listen to the interview on Radioeins’ science programme and podcast, Die Profis. (In German)
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