Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?

Harsh Paliwal | Updated: March 25, 2022, 8:29 AM

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Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?

Since the Russian invasion began, an estimated 10 million Ukrainians have left their homes in search of a safe place. While some have received shelter in the neighboring countries after waiting in long queues, some remain displaced in their own country, and others still await a chance to cross the border. This displacement of such a huge population has caused a massive humanitarian crisis that Europe is still not ready to deal with.

Background

Tensions started brewing at the Kremlin after Volodymor Zelenskyy urged US President Joe Biden to fast-track the NATO approval for Ukraine. Putin strongly advocated that he did not want a neighboring country to be part of the NATO alliance, and started amassing troops on the border. While most experts predicted a war like situation, some also said that Russia is in no position to wage war against Ukraine, given the economic crisis it faces. However, on 24th February, Russian forces launched a “special military operation” on Ukraine. Zelenskyy asked for support from the West, but all they did was supply the country with arms and ammunition, and not actual military support. Since then, the country has been caught in the midst of the war, and its citizens are stuck in an endless loop of enemy shelling and firing. 

Migration

Many foresighted Ukrainians who had felt the tensions escalating have already migrated to the neighboring countries, but the majority of the population, who were caught off guard with the Russian invasion, thought about migrating only when the invasion begun or when it reached near them.

Almost 3.6 million refugees have left Ukraine, while an estimated 6.48 million people have been displaced within the country. In total, ten million people – more than a quarter of the population – had left their homes in Ukraine by 20 March.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?

Which Countries Are Accepting The Ukrainian Refugees?

Europe is witnessing the biggest migrant crisis since the World War II. The vast majority of these refugees have directly entered their neighboring European countries. Among the countries absorbing the refugees, Poland has accepted more refugees from Ukraine than all the other European countries combined. Other neighboring countries of Ukraine that have received refugees are Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia. Some refugees have then moved further west to other European countries, and to a lesser extent, elsewhere. However, observers note that most are likely to stay in Poland and other countries in Central Europe because "tight labor markets, affordable cities, and a pre-existing diaspora have made those countries more appealing alternatives for Ukrainians, who find options slimmer in Europe's west." 

The EU countries bordering Ukraine have allowed the Ukrainian refugees to cross the border without much trouble and have allowed entry to all people fleeing war in Ukraine on humanitarian grounds, regardless of whether they have a biometric passport. Furthermore, the EU has decided to grant them the right to stay, work, and study in any EU member state of their choosing for an initial period of one year.

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Also Read: The big game in Eurasia pushing for a New World Order 

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Poland

The authorities in Poland had predicted a full blown invasion far before the actual invasion even began. The Polish government had asked the communities to make preparations to accommodate at least a million refugees. By 19 March 2022, more than 2.1 million Ukrainian refugees had entered Poland. The authorities have made it very easy for the Ukrainians to cross the border by doing away with the long list of formalities that one needs to have to cross the Polish borders. Assembly points for refugees have opened in every district of Poland. Local authorities are providing free accommodation, food, and other necessary supplies. Apart from that, a huge number of citizens and organisations are voluntarily offering assistance, free accommodation, and other help.

Although, the Polish Government has asked for monetary help from the EU in order to host the overwhelming amount of refugees pouring in from Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?

Romania

According to the Romanian Government, by 21st March, 5,43,308 Ukrainians had crossed the border into Romania. Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has said Romania is “open … to all those in need”, and that the refugees will be provided with “whatever is needed for them to feel safe.”

Moldova

Moldova was among the first countries to receive refugees from the Odessa and Vinnytsia oblasts. Moldovan authorities have activated a center of crisis management to facilitate accommodation and humanitarian relief for refugees. By 21 March 2022, 3,67,913 Ukrainian refugees had entered Moldova which is the highest number of refugees per capita of any country. The Government of Moldova is providing free bus rides, and Romania has assisted Moldova with moving people onwards into Romania in order to relieve the pressure in Moldova.

Hungary

A country that seven years ago built barbed-wire fences and deployed attack dogs to keep out refugees has allowed 3,17,863 Ukrainians to enter by 21st March, according to the UNHCR. Their Prime Minister Viktor Orban had said on 16th March that there would be "no limit on the number of Ukrainian refugees who can stay in Hungary."

Slovakia

By 21 March 2022, nearly 2,53,592 Ukrainian refugees had entered Slovakia. The country’s Prime Minister, Eduard Heger, had earlier said, “Slovakia is ready to help every Ukrainian who asks for such help.”

Russia

Since Russia and Ukraine have a shared history, Several Ukrainians have also migrated to Russia post the invasion. According to Russian Government figures, 2,52,376 refugees had gone to Russia by March 21, 2022. Before the 2022 crisis, more than a million refugees from Ukraine, mainly from Donbas, which is a bone of contention between Russia and Ukraine, had gone to Russia between 2014 and 2016.

Czech Republic

As of March 17, over 2,70,000 refugees from Ukraine had arrived in the Czech Republic. A network of ‘Regional Centres for Help and Assistance to Ukraine’ (Krajská asistenční centra pomoci Ukrajině) was created in the regional capitals of the country to help refugees obtain registration, accomodation, health insurance, and other assistance.

France

By 16 March, at least 17,000 Ukrainian refugees had entered France, according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. By 22 March, more than 26,000 Ukrainian refugees had entered France, according to Prime Minister Jean Castex. On 25 February, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France "will take its part" in welcoming Ukrainian refugees; a step welcomed by migrant aid associations.

International Help

Several other countries have also extended a helping hand in times of distress for the Ukrainian refugees. International help is pouring in, and a lot of fundraisers have also been initiated by the well-wishers of the Ukrainian community. Organisations such as UNICEF, the United Nations Refugee Agency, International Rescue Committee, United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, and others began accepting monetary donations for helping refugees and those affected by the crisis. Others such as The Kyiv Independent began ‘GoFundMe’ campaigns to raise money for specific causes or calls for physical items to be donated by an individual.

Furthermore, railway companies in several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland, are allowing Ukrainian refugees to travel by train for free.

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?

The international response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis was almost unreal. Several countries extended a helping hand to the fleeing Ukrainians, and are providing them with all the basic necessities. Although, leaving one’s home in times of crisis is a terrible image to carry which will haunt the Ukrainian refugees for years to come.

However, while the entire international community hopes for their timely return to their homes, the situation in Ukraine is still tense and requires some de-escalation before the Ukrainians could even imagine turning towards their home.

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