MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - More than 45,000 refugees from southeastern Ukraine have been taken from areas bordering Ukraine to Russia’s interior regions, while all Russian temporary accommodation centers are currently home to nearly 60,000 Ukrainians, a representative from Russia’s emergency response center told RIA Novosti Monday.
“45,070 people and 2,120 tons of humanitarian cargo have been moved by air, train and motor vehicle,” the source said. As of Monday morning, Russia had established 865 temporary accommodation centers, housing a total of 59,760 people, the official added.
The temporary facilities are not to close until a new plan to take in the refugees is established, the deputy head of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Stepanov, said August 14.
Temporary accommodation facilities are generally established at educational and cultural facilities, health resorts and sport venues. The capacity of a single accommodation center varies from 50 to several thousand people.
The influx of refugees from southeastern Ukraine to Russia has greatly increased since the escalation of the conflict between independence supporters and government forces in June.
According to Federal Migration Service estimates, over 730,000 Ukrainian citizens have crossed the border into Russia since the conflict began.
