MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti) — Delegates from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are to visit Russia in order to assess the conditions and needs of Ukrainian refugees amid the coming winter, the head of the federation's representative office in Russia Davron Mukhamadiev said.
"In connection with the coming winter period, we are expecting our specialists from the federation's headquarters within a week in order to assess the needs and demands of the most vulnerable displaced persons from Ukraine – large families, the disabled and the elderly," Mukhamadiev said at a press-conference Wednesday.
Russia witnessed a large number of Ukrainian refugees flowing into the country during the summer as clashes between independence supporters and the Kiev-led forces in the volatile eastern regions grew more violent. According to estimates by Russia's Federal Migration Service, the number of Ukrainians currently in Russia stands at 2.6 million.
So far, over 225,000 Ukrainian citizens have applied for asylum in Russia.