Number of Ukrainian Refugees in Europe Exceeds 900,000 – UN Report

A total of 1.35 million of Ukrainian citizens were registered as internally displaced persons. The majority of those who fled the country found shelter in Russia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — More than 900,000 Ukrainians have fled conflict in the country since the beginning of a military operation in April 2014, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a report.

"According to government sources in receiving countries, the total number of people seeking asylum or other forms of legal stay in neighbouring countries now stands at 900,300, with the majority going to the Russian Federation (746,500) and Belarus (81,200)," the report issued Friday read.

Besides Russia and Belarus, the list of host countries includes Germany, Poland, Italy, Sweden, France and many other European countries, according to the report.

"There were 4,603 applications for international protection in Germany, 3,600 in Poland, 2,956 in Italy, 1,962 in Sweden, 1,763 in France, 200 in Moldova, 60 in Romania, 60 in Hungary and 20 in Slovakia," the UNHCR findings highlighted.

Moreover, a total of 1.35 million of Ukrainian citizens were registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs), the report said.

The Ukrainian conflict escalated in spring 2014, when Kiev launched a military offense to suppress independence supporters of eastern Ukraine for refusing to recognize a coup-imposed government.

Eastern regions of Ukraine are still facing a severe humanitarian crisis in spite of the fact that the warring sides signed a ceasefire deal in February. Local residents leave their homes for fear of being killed or injured amid ongoing hostilities.