Thousands of refugees pour into neighbouring countries after Russian invasion

February 24, 2022

European countries have announced they are ready to receive refugees as terrified Ukrainians flee the conflict with Russia.

Poland, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova are among those to have condemned Vladimir Putin’s actions and announced they would provide humanitarian aid to those who need it.

In what has been described as a ‘catastrophe for Europe’ by British prime minister Boris Johnson, Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea early this morning.

German media reports suggest up to one million people may flee Ukraine – with a population of 44 million people – into other EU countries.

Polish deputy minister of internal affairs, Pawel Szefernaker, said the country would set up reception points for refugees on its borders.

‘We will do everything to ensure that every person who enters the territory of Poland has access to healthcare, including hospitalisation,’ the ministry said.

The president of Moldova estimates some 4,000 people have entered the country across the border.

Maia Sandu tweeted: ‘Our borders are open for Ukrainian citizens who need safe transit or stay.’

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Why is Russia invading Ukraine?

Russia has been steadily building a force of up to 200,000 on the border for several months, heavily outnumbering its neighbour’s army.

Ukraine’s military has been preparing for an assault with the assistance of Western allies but there is a gulf in capability between the two nations.

The conflict between the countries began in 2014 when a popular revolution saw the pro-Moscow government in Kyiv swept away.

In response, Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow-backed separatists forces in the eastern Donbas region declared their independence, triggering years of grinding conflict which has claimed thousands of lives.

Russian president Vladimir Putin penned a long essay last year setting out his ethno-nationalist belief that Ukraine is destined to be a part of Russia, a clear warning he did not intend to stop at the Crimean peninsula.

US and UK intelligence has long warned Russia could use a range of military tactics to attack Ukraine.

Putin has kept the world guessing about his true intentions in recent months and at times has appeared to suggest a willingness to engage with diplomatic talks, despite preparing for an incursion.

After weeks of rising tensions, he took a series of steps this week that dramatically raised the stakes.

First, he recognised the independence of two separatist-held regions in Ukraine – Donetsk and Luhansk.

Then he said that recognition extends even to the large parts of the territories held by Ukrainian forces, including the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol.

Finally, he asked for and was granted permission to use military force outside Russia – effectively formalising a military deployment to the rebel regions.

He suggested there was a way out of the crisis – if Kyiv would recognise Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and renounced its bid to join Nato.

Both demands have been previously rejected by Ukraine and the West.

Bulgarian president Rumen Radev said his country was preparing to receive more than 4,000 ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine, and was ready to host other Ukrainian refugees.

The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said humanitraian aid would be provided if required and called for the ‘consistent consolidation’ of NATO’s eastern flank.

Many EU countries have already urged their citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible, with the majority of airlines and railways suspending services as the country closed its airspace.

Striking images from earlier today show roads out of capital Kyiv filled with cars as families attempted to get to safer territory closer to the Polish border.

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