The number of people fleeing the war in Ukraine has exceeded 6 million in Europe’s worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II, the United Nations said.
This was announced by the Refugee Agency on Thursday, quoted by Reuters.
The Russian invasion, which began on February 24, caused a massive displacement of people. More than 8 million Ukrainians remain in the country but have left their homes, according to the latest report from the International Organization for Migration.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says 6.03 million have fled Ukraine.
Most refugees have crossed into the European Union through border crossings in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. More than 3.3 million people, mostly women, and children have crossed the border into Poland. The Polish government estimates that about half plan to stay in the country, which is causing problems in the housing market, education, and health, as refugees are entitled to European temporary protection, which guarantees them access to shelter, and social and health services.
According to the Bulgarian government, there are 104,235 Ukrainian refugees registered in the country, more than 39,000 of them children. 102,522 Ukrainian refugees (98.3%) have applied for European temporary protection in Bulgaria. Since the beginning of the war, more than a quarter of a million Ukrainian citizens have passed through Bulgaria.
Lithuania recalls its ambassador to Russia
Lithuania officially recalled Evidas Bayarunas from the post of ambassador to Russia on Thursday, limiting his term to June 1st.
The government also intends to close the Lithuanian Consulate General in St. Petersburg on June 7, Interfax reported. Moscow closed it in retaliation after Lithuania decides to expel Russian Ambassador to Vilnius Alexei Isakov and employees of the Russian Consulate General in Klaipeda.
In early April, due to the events in Ukraine, the Lithuanian government decided to reduce the diplomatic mission between Lithuania and Russia and ordered the Russian ambassador to leave the country. It was also decided to close the Russian consulate in Klaipeda.
The most important of the 78th day of the war in Ukraine
Diary “summarizes key moments of today related to the war in Ukraine:
Finland must apply to join NATO “without delay”, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said today. This is a historic change in the country’s policy caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Niinisto also addressed harsh words to Russia. In this process, the next expected official position “for” joining the alliance is that of Sweden.
“Undoubtedly,” the Finnish government’s support for NATO membership is a threat to Russia that will neither make Europe nor the world more stable. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in response to the position announced by the Finnish leadership.
The Russian-controlled military-civilian administrators of the Kherson region are preparing to ask President Vladimir Putin for “inclusion” (annexation). This was announced by its deputy head Kirill Stremousov, quoted by Russian and Ukrainian media. Moscow has so far reacted evasively.
Russia is the most direct threat to the world order because of the “barbaric” war in Ukraine. This was stated in Tokyo by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen after she met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel with the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army announced today that Russian forces are continuing airstrikes on the besieged Azovstal plant in Mariupol and its offensive in other parts of eastern Ukraine. Another Russian airstrike against the city of Novgorod-Seversky in northeastern Ukraine killed at least three people tonight. The wounded are 12.
