PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF THE BELARUSIAN DIASPORA IN PRESENT-DAY UKRAINE IN PERSPRCTIVE OF THE BELARUSIAN REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY AND FREEDOM

The problem of emigration to Ukraine of a significant number of Belarusian citizens due to the events of the Belarusian anti-Lukashenko revolution of dignity and freedom, which began in this country in August 2020 after the presidential election, is discussed in the article. It is noted that at the beginning of 2021 the number of those who fled to Ukraine, hiding from repression and persecution by the Belarusian authorities, was already more than 75 thousand people. In the future, the number of Belarusian refugees is projected to increase to 100-120 thousand people by 2021. It is unknown yet which of these people will join the Belarusian Diaspora in Ukraine, which before these events was the second largest Diaspora in Ukraine. And who considers Ukraine only as a territory of transit further to the East, or the West, for example, to Poland. In connection with these events, the Ukrainian state and society faced a series of challenges, problems and threats, to which it will be necessary to find adequate answers. In particular, the authors of the article consider unjustified some warnings expressed by patriotic Ukrainian citizens about the possible growth of pro-Russian sentiment in Ukraine due to the arrival and settlement of Belarusian refugees here. It seems logical that people with pro-Russian sentiments would rather immigrate to Russia than come to Ukraine. It is expected that a significant problem for the newly arrived Belarusians may be the understanding and establishment of dialogue and contacts with the "old" Belarusian Diaspora in Ukraine because of its commitment to Lukashenko and sympathy for Russia. It is concluded that Belarusian citizens, active participants in the Belarusian revolution, can become a useful enzyme for accelerating the reform processes in Ukraine and will contribute to further democratic and pro-European movement in this area.