The Maastrichtian sediments of northern Iraq are rich in larger benthic foraminifera. Among them, the genus
Loftusia is well-known one because of its significant palaeogeographic distribution across the Mediterranean
and Middle East. In this study, observations of abnormal test shapes, species recognition criteria and endoskeleton
characteristics of Loftusia are discussed, based on the new material from north-eastern Iraq. The following
species of Loftusia are described: Loftusia elongata Cox, L. persica Brady, Loftusia morgani Douvillé, L. anatolica
Meriç, L. matsumarui Meriç and Görmüs, L. minor B Cox, L. ketini B Meriç and L. kahtaensis Meriç,
Loftusia minor A Cox, L. oktayi Meriç and L. baykali Meriç. The predominant species are Loftusia elongata,
L. morgani and L. baykali. Skewed abnormal individuals and epidermal parts of the endoskeleton structure are
also interesting aspects to note. Quantitative data obtained for Loftusia allow us to better understand and interpret
species identification criteria, abnormal occurrences and the endoskeleton structure.
Ukraine remains today one of the main migrant sending countries in Europe, with thousands of Ukrainians working in Czechia, Italy, Poland and Russia. In this regard, Ukraine shares the previous experience of Central European countries such as the Baltic States, Poland and Slovakia, that in the 1990s and early 2000s registered first temporary, and later permanent, outflows. In more recent years, however, many Central and Eastern European countries started to register increasing numbers of immigrants and some of them have switched from net sending to net receiving migration regimes. The objective of this article is to discuss the possibility of a similar turnaround in Ukraine; to this end, we investigate the main quantitative data on mi-gration from and to Ukraine, and interpret this information in the light of selected theoretical approaches that have been used to explain migration in Central and Eastern Europe. The available data reveal high levels of labour emigration of both temporary and permanent character, the increasing propensity of mi-grants to settle down in the host countries, and the growing involvement of the youngest cohorts in the emi-gration. Despite this evidence we argue that the current situation by no means constitutes a premise for reversing the outflow from Ukraine. We conclude that the most recent improvements in general economic indicators will not lead to high levels of immigration without an active labour market policy towards foreigners.