The "Unity Hub Berlin" in the city centre offers Ukrainians services as diverse as passport renewals, advice on launching a high-tech start-up or access to therapy.
Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the inauguration, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the return of fighting-age men "essential to ensure Ukraine's ability to defend itself, its social cohesion and reconstruction".
READ ALSO: Ukraine and Germany sign defence deal and boost drone cooperation
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt also said one of the centre's aims was "discussing the possibility of return" for some of the roughly 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees in Germany.
The rent for the Hub, which will open its doors on Wednesday, is being paid by the German government while Kyiv is handling the day-to-day operations.
Germany has become Ukraine's most important backer after the United States under President Donald Trump cut back on support.
As well as Ukrainian organisations, the Hub houses international agencies such as the UN refugee organisation UNHCR.
READ ALSO:Â How Ukrainian refugees have rapidly integrated into Germany
The brand-new three-storey Hub is in stark contrast to Berlin's previous main reception centre for Ukrainian refugees – a site at Berlin's old Tegel airport that housed up to 5,000 Ukrainians in tents and containers.
Merz has made a tougher refugee policy a key priority as he attempts to stem the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
In November, the German government reduced the support that newer arrivals from Ukraine are entitled to.
Merz has also asked Ukraine to take measures to stop the flow of Ukrainian men aged 18-22 to Germany.
Men in this age bracket have since last August been authorised to leave Ukraine, a decision that Zelensky's government is loath to go back on for fear of a public backlash.
Zelensky said Tuesday that "our armed forces would like" young Ukrainians to return, but drew a distinction between those who "had the right" to leave and those who had done so in violation of Ukrainian law.
Comments