MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s voluntary repatriation program is to be expanded by 20 percent due to the large amount of Ukrainian refugees entering Russia, making it possible for 11,291 people to settle down in different regions of the country, the Russian government said in a statement on its website Wednesday.
“Regional programs that are included in the state program to assist in voluntary resettlement in the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad are amended due to an increase in the number of people forced to leave Ukraine,” the statement said.
The original plan was to arrange for 48,000 Russians living abroad to resettle in Russia. The number has now been changed to 60,000.
Tula Region is set to receive the highest number of Ukrainians at 1,750, followed by Kaluga and Orenburg regions, which will welcome 1,000 people each.
The federal government has also agreed on a repatriation program for Stavropol Territory for 2014-2016, intended to increase the region’s employment potential and integrate migrants from Ukraine. The program’s participants will be provided with social support, employment and housing assistance and help with integration into the community.
Refugee numbers have been on the rise since June as people are fleeing the ongoing unrest in southeastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian Special Forces are carrying out an operation against independence supporters. According to Russian authorities, there are now more than 730,000 Ukrainian refugees in Russia.
