MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government will fund the programs for the reception and placement of refugees from Ukraine, with the Federal Migration Service receiving approximately $15.5 million from funds allocated to support small and medium-sized businesses, the newspaper Izvestiya wrote Monday, citing the ordinance of the Cabinet of Minister.
The money is supposed to be taken from programs of the federal budget for 2014-2016 years, namely from the funds issued to support small businesses and provide social support to the population, the newspaper reported, noting that this kind of state assistance can be provided only once.
The influx of Ukrainian refugees to Russia has increased dramatically since June due to the armed conflict between the Donbas independence supporters and Ukrainian forces. According to the United Nations, the number of people who have fled Ukraine for Russia since the beginning of the year is about 730,000.
As the Russian Federal Migration Service reported last week, about 60,000 of Ukrainians requested refugee status or temporary asylum in Russia.