FMS: Over 45,000 Ukrainian refugees request naturalization in Russia
MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax) - The Federal Migration Service (FMS) will ask the government for temporary residence quotas to be increased by an additional 16,000, which will be granted to refugees from Ukraine.
"More than 113,000 Ukrainian refugees seeking temporary residence permits have applied to territorial migration offices since the beginning of this year and we have requested that the government increase quotas by additional 16,000, which will allow Ukrainian refugees to be granted temporary residence permits to," FMS naturalization department deputy head Lilia Arestova said at a meeting of the committee for public support to residents of southeastern Ukraine on Monday.
The temporary residence quota has been increased by 50,000 permits against the backdrop of migration from Ukraine, she said.
FMS territorial offices are rapidly processing applications filed by Ukrainian refugees, Arestova said.
"Over 470,000 applications have been lodged with territorial bodies since the beginning of this year, and almost 240,000 persons have asked for asylum. Only 203 persons have been given refugee status and slightly more than 210 have received temporary asylum as of yet," Arestova said.
Nearly 45,000 Ukrainian citizens have asked the Federal Migration Service to allow them to join the state program of assistance for the voluntary resettlement of compatriots to the Russian territory," she continued.
"Approximately 47,000 persons have decided to apply for naturalization in Russia and more than 26,000 will seek a residence permit," Arestova said.
In turn, Federation Council Social Policy Committee Chairman Valery Ryazansky said that the number of temporary shelters accommodating Ukrainian refugees has reduced due to the approaching winter season.
"About 850 temporary shelters housing Ukrainian citizens from southeastern Ukraine are operating in Russia now. They are accommodating more than 40,000 persons, including 12,000 children. People are going home to southeastern Ukraine and the number of temporary shelters is reducing," Ryazansky said.