More than 1.7 million civilians have fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations (UN).
What is the expected scale of Ukraine’s refugee crisis?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could see the “largest refugee crisis this century”, the UN refugee agency has warned, with up to four million people fleeing the country in the coming weeks and months.
The European Union (EU) has predicted the same, and it said it will welcome refugees “with open arms”.
For context, the 2015 refugee crisis saw 1.3 million people attempt to reach Europe from countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Which countries are Ukraine’s refugees fleeing to?
Refugees have been heading west to neighbouring countries such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova. Much fewer have gone to Russia and Russia’s ally Belarus.
According to the UN, since February 24:
- Poland has taken in 1,027,603 refugees
- Hungary 180,163
- Moldova 82,762
- Slovakia 128,169
- Romania 78,977
- Russia 53,300
- Belarus 406
More than 183,000 people have moved on from these countries to others in Europe.
How are refugees leaving Ukraine?
Domestic civilian flights were cancelled on the first day of the invasion. Since then, people have mostly travelled by car, by train or on foot.
Refugees have been told they do not need documents, but if possible should have their passports, birth certificates of children travelling with them and medical documents.
To get refugee status, they need to be Ukrainian citizens or people legally living in Ukraine, such as foreign students.
There have been miles-long lines at Polish border crossings where people have had to wait as long as 60 hours to be processed in freezing temperatures and have been sleeping in their cars.
Last week the UN also reported a 20-hour queue in Romania, and it’s taking 24 hours to drive the roughly 60 kilometres that separate Odessa from Ukraine’s border with Moldova.
Many have not been able to board trains leaving Ukrainian cities.
What has been the response from neighbouring countries?
The Polish authorities have offered comprehensive help to refugees, including free train travel and access to healthcare. Refugees can stay in reception centres if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with, and there is no longer a requirement for a negative Covid test.
Hungary has opened sections of its border that were closed to migration. Alongside Romania, it is offering cash allowances for food and clothing. Children are being given places in local schools.
Moldova has networks of volunteers providing support and hosting families coming in from Ukraine.
However, there have been reports of people of colour trying to flee Ukraine, mostly students from Africa and the Middle East, being pushed back and suffering racial discrimination when trying to cross borders.
What are other European countries doing to help?
The EU has been swift and united in its response. EU member states unanimously agreed to trigger the hitherto unused Temporary Protection Directive, designed to operate when the traditional asylum system is overwhelmed.
It is expected to give Ukrainian refugees the right to live and work in all EU countries for up to three years. Ukrainians will also be able to work, access education and housing without having to claim asylum.
Poland and Slovakia have asked the EU for help providing for refugees. As a result, Greece and Germany are sending tents, blankets and masks to Slovakia, while France is sending medicine and other medical equipment to Poland.
Germany and Austria are offering free train travel to those seeking to reach their countries from Ukraine.
What is the UK doing to help?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK could take in 200,000 Ukrainian refugees.
However as of March 7, only 50 Ukrainians have been granted visas under a scheme for refugees with family links to the UK.
It is about 1 per cent of the 5,535 people who have applied since the programme launched 48 hours earlier.
The UK has steadily increased its visa offer to refugees from Ukraine, extending it to parents, grandparents and siblings as well as “immediate family” and extending the visas to three years.
Businesses will also be able to sponsor a Ukrainian to come to the country.
But the UK has faced criticism that its scheme is less generous than the EU’s. France accused the UK of a “lack of humanity”, saying that 150 refugees were turned back at Calais for lacking a visa. Home secretary Priti Patel has insisted people were not being turned back.
Immigration lawyers in the UK have written to the government calling on it to accelerate the launch of a humanitarian route for refugees and requesting visa requirements to be lifted for all Ukrainians seeking to come to the UK.
Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, said that the visa process could be simplified, adding that any issues could be resolved later but right now the “maximum” number needed to be admitted.
