Ukrainian State Border Service updates border crossing statistics

MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax) - The number of outbound border crossings from Ukraine dropped to 209,000 for the week of March 9-15 from 215,000 a week earlier, while the number of inbound crossings fell to 207,000 from 210,000, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Ukrainian State Border Service as saying on social media.

The number of cleared vehicles has grown for the third week in a row to 116,000 from 110,000 a week earlier, while the number of those carrying humanitarian supplies has slightly gone down to 769 from 776.

According to updated statistics provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe was estimated at 5.983 million as of March 14 this year, which was 21,000 less than a month earlier, and at 6.486 million worldwide, which was 6,000 more than a month earlier.

The UN said that there were 3.689 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine itself as of December 31 last year, which was 15,000 more than in early November.