MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti) - More than 800,000 Ukrainians have fled Ukraine for Russia since the start of Kiev’s military operation in southeastern Ukraine, some 130,000 applied for asylum, Russia’s Federal Migration Service told RIA Novosti Saturday.
“Since the start of the conflict [in Ukraine] migration service received requests from: 130,000 Ukrainian citizens asking for temporary asylum or to be granted a refugee status, over 78,000 asking for temporary residence, over 33,000 applying for Russian citizenship,” the press service said.
Russia’s Migration Service says the total number of people who fled Ukraine and stayed in Russia since April 1 stands at 820,000 people.
Moreover, some 22,000 Ukrainians asked for residence permit, over 12,000 decided to join the state program to resettle compatriots.
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.
The UN report, published Friday, said 2,220 people died and about 6,000 were injured in the Ukrainian crisis between mid-April and August 17.
