Over 500,000 Ukrainian refugees already staying in Russia - Federation Council speaker
MOSCOW. June 26 (Interfax) - More than 500,000 refugees from Ukraine have already crossed into Russia, Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of Russia's parliament has said.
"More than 500,000 refugees from Ukraine, mostly women, children and elderly people, are staying in our [Russian] regions today," Matviyenko said, opening a session of the public committee to assist people from Ukraine's southeastern regions on Thursday.
The southeast of Ukraine is currently facing a humanitarian catastrophe, she added.
"Most of these people would like to receive refugee status. There are also people who would like to sit out this situation and return to their homes after everything returns to normal. And our commission will tackle all issues linked with these refugees. I mean providing them with accommodation and comprehensive assistance," Matviyenko said.
The authorities in the regions are doing everything in their power to help Ukrainian refugees, she said.
"People are being given accommodation, children are being sent on vacation and medical care is being provided to them," she said.
