Refugees from Ukraine continue to pour into EU borders

People carrying luggage move near the train station in Kiev, Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker said on February 26 that about 100,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

According to Deputy Minister Szefernaker, more than 9,000 people from Ukraine have crossed the border into Poland since 7:00 a.m. on February 26 local time.

In the city of Medyka in southern Poland, about 85km from the Ukrainian city of Lviv, thousands of Ukrainians are waiting to apply for asylum.

Early the same morning, the Czech Republic sent special trains carrying Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic to the border area with Poland to facilitate them meeting relatives who had crossed the border from their home country to avoid the war.

In the Slovak border town of Ubla, authorities took in refugees from Ukraine and took them to a local gym, providing folding beds, mattresses and bread.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria sent four buses to the Ukrainian capital Kiev to evacuate the 250,000-strong Bulgarian community living in Ukraine.

Since 7:00 a.m. on February 26, the Ukrainian side has closed the road for cars and only allows pedestrians to participate in traffic.

Issues related to refugees after Russia launched a special military operation in Eastern Ukraine are of concern.

It is expected that the Interior Ministers of the European Union (EU) countries will meet to discuss this issue.

On his Twitter account on February 25, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the meeting was held to come up with specific solutions.

Meanwhile, speaking to France Inter radio, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the meeting would look at how EU countries can best handle the refugee issue from Ukraine.

According to VNA